Tasklist for Austria's new coalition government: tackle migration, cut the budget, but boost the defense

CGTN Europe

Finally sworn in last week after five months of horse-trading, the three-party coalition has plenty to agree on.   CGTN's Johannes Pleschberger reports from Austria.

Transcript

00:00Austria's schools are burdened with too many migrant children, the country's new government says.

00:06By halting family reunification visas, the EU member hopes to take pressure off its education and welfare systems.

00:14But the Social Democratic Party, part of the government coalition, has voiced in part opposition to this,

00:21revealing the fragility of Austria's first three-way government in decades.

00:27Asylum is a human right.

00:29And if people who've had to flee from war and terror and suffering can no longer live with their families,

00:34then that clearly contradicts this.

00:38By curbing migration, the government is also trying to appease right-wing voters,

00:43which saw their Freedom Party win the largest number of seats in recent elections,

00:47but fail to become part of the coalition.

00:51The labor and education systems have become overburdened in recent years due to the influx of families.

00:58We have Syrian, Afghan and Chechen criminal youth gangs that were and still are active,

01:04particularly in our capital city.

01:07The toughest measure ahead, however, won't be curbing migration, but restructuring Austria's budget.

01:14According to the latest predictions, Austria is heading into its third year of recession,

01:19but it can't spend its way out of the problem.

01:22The new government must save $7 billion this year to keep in line with EU fiscal rules.

01:30One area where the government is expected to see more spending is defense.

01:34It's not part of NATO, but recent EU-US tensions have prompted Vienna to renew its pledge

01:40to spend 2% of GDP on its defenses.

01:47Meanwhile, Chancellor and conservative leader Christian Stocker said Europe must increase its efforts

01:52to ensure Ukraine's freedom and sovereignty, indicating continued support for Kiev going forward.

01:59Johannes Bleschberger, CGTN, Vienna.

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