Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (R) shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Jan. 30, 2018. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Vienna on Tuesday with discussions over the ongoing migration issue key on the agenda. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)
VIENNA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Vienna on Tuesday with discussions over the ongoing migration issue key on the agenda.
At a press conference, both leaders reinforced their position that illegal migration into Europe must be stopped, and that a quota system for the intake of refugees in EU member states is not the right path.
Both leaders share the mutual goal of creating a new asylum system. Kurz argued that it should be European states rather than people smugglers who must decide on who may enter the continent.
He noted that a change of opinion on the issue has already taken place in many member states, and said Austria would like to play a "bridging function" between Western Europe and the Visegrad states.
Kurz also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of Hungary, including via the joint participation of border police from both countries at the shared border between Hungary and Serbia.
Orban thanked Kurz for the invitation to Austria, and said the Austrian leader had already been a good partner during his time as foreign minister. In addition, he said he is glad that neighboring Austria has been proven as a dependable ally.
He reiterated his known stance on the migration issue, calling the mass influx of people into Europe the greatest danger it is presently faced with.
His country has no illegal migrants, and will not allow any to enter in future, he added.
Both leaders also again stressed the importance of the protection of the EU's outer borders against illegal migration, while at the same time calling for a strengthening of the Schengen Area.
