Austria withdraws from the United Nations Agreement on Cooperation on Migration

For nearly two years, nearly 200 UN countries have developed a global agreement to establish and manage global migration and to strengthen the rights of migrants. The UN agreement is the first of its kind and, although it is not legally binding, it has already been called a milestone.

However, when countries meet in Morocco in mid-December to sign the agreement, it will be without the participation of Austria. On Wednesday, the country's government, made up of the conservative ÖVP party and the right-wing FPÖ party, decided to withdraw the conversation.

The reason is that it threatens the country self-determination in migration and the confusion of borders between legal and illegal migration, announced the Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the ÖVP.

As a result, Austria invites Hungary, the United States and Australia, which have so far given nobility to the UN agreement. The four countries are excellent in pursuing a very strict migration policy and listening to refugees. According to the Austrian newspaper Der Standard, the FPÖ has mobilized in recent weeks to write the draft this summer, while Austria was still on the train.

It's a sign on the party is advancing its positions within the government and has now started making a workshop of its policy.

"Migration is not a human right," said Austrian Deputy Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, who heads the FPÖ in a statement.

"It may be that no one is allowed to migrate because of climate or poverty, and then we will have development around the world whose real political implications will become irreplaceable," Strache continued.

The decision to give the UN the nobility is less a matter of international politics than sending a signal to the voters of their country. A year ago, the two government parties won the legislative elections with a wide margin, promising to significantly reduce the number of asylum seekers and reduce contributions to newcomers.

The message comes at the same time that Austria is asking the EU Presidency to ensure that the fragmented union is an agreement on migration policy. During a move to Brussels on Wednesday, the European Commission regretted the decision of Austria.