Austria, Slovenia Considering Border Fences Amid Migrant Crisis

Austria says it will begin building "technical barriers" to control the flow of migrants into the country from neighboring Slovenia.

Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner told parliament on October 28 that construction of the fence would begin in about 10 days. She insisted, however, that there are no plans "to build a fence around Austria."

Slovenia said on the same day that it is also preparing to build a border fence. Prime Minister Miro Cerar told a security council meeting that, "if necessary, we are ready to put up the fence immediately."

In the past, Vienna has harshly criticized the building of border fences as a solution to the current migrant crisis. However, Austria's efforts to handle the influx of migrants have been complicated by recent moves by Germany -- the desired destination country for many migrants -- to slow the flow of migrants from Austria.

Mikl-Leitner said Austria is struggling "because Germany is taking too few" migrants.

More than 700,000 migrants -- most of them fleeing poverty and violence in Syria, Afghanistan, and Africa, have entered Europe so far this year.

Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP