Austria calls for EU 'civil-military' border force

Austrian defense minister Hans Peter Doskozil said in press statements that his country plus Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia will write to the EU diplomatic service to propose the creation of a "mixed civil-police-military mission that should be deployed where necessary" to guard EU borders, with initial deployment in Greece.

Austria has suggested setting up a "bridging mission" that would help EU border agency Frontex process and deport migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey until Frontex is fully staffed there, which Vienna has said could take months.

Meeting defense and other officials from the region in Vienna on Thursday, Doskozil said those present backed a modified version of that concept, which could be sent to Greece or elsewhere.

"It is ... a mixed civil-police-military mission that should be deployed where necessary," Doskozil said, adding the aim was to help secure the European Union's external borders and deport migrants not entitled to stay in the bloc.

Austria has broken ranks with its neighbor Germany on how to deal with Europe's migration crisis, coordinating a cascade of border restrictions through the Balkans that have left tens of thousands of migrants stuck in Greece.

Doskozil said those present - including EU members Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia - would send a letter detailing the proposal to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini ahead of an EU defense ministers' meeting on April 19.

Source: MENA