EU in CRISIS: Austria could join anti- immigration Visegrad group in Brussels slap down

Sebastian Kurz is set to become the continent’s
youngest leader after his Austrian People’s Party
topped the polls after Sunday's vote.
But, despite warnings from the EU, he may need to
form a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party
(FPO) to secure a government.
Now reports in the Polish press suggest the FPO could
insist Austria joins the Visegrad group, a four-nation
alliance of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and
Slovakia that is opposed to immigration, as a condition
of forming a coalition.
Sebastian Kurz topped the polls
Austria to leave EU?
Kurz vows GREAT
CHANGE amid
eurosceptic coalition
Juncker calls shots in
Austria urging Kurz
to form PRO-EU
government
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The Visegrad leaders have previously refused migrant
quotas approved by a western-dominated majority of
European Union member states.
And they also reject proposed EU reforms that would
transfer more power from national governments to
Brussels institutions.
Joining the alliance was supported by the FPO in its
election campaign.
Could Austria join the Visegrad group?
In a debate before the poll, FPO chief Heinz-Christian
Strache pledged: “We will strengthen contact with the
Visegard states and it would be nice and good if we
could maybe even become a member of the Visegrad
Group.”
Mr Kurz has also praised right-wing Hungarian Prime
Minister Viktor Orban for building a border fence to
keep migrants out of EU territory.
Supporters hope that, with the addition of Austria, the
Visegrad nations could hold greater sway in the EU
and lead the fight against open borders and an ever-
closer union.
Jean-Claude Juncker embraces Angela Merkel
An editorial by Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita urged
Mr Kurz to join up, saying: “If you join V4, it will
increase the importance of the group in the EU game -
not just the future of immigration.”
Mr Orban, along with his allies, has been a thorn in the
side of western EU leaders, lashing out at the visions
of Jean-Claude Juncker and French President
Emmanuel Macron for closer integration.
And this weekend, on a trip to Slovakia, he hit out at
the bloc over its borders policy, telling them: "I have to
say firmly, that all the institutions of the EU have
utterly failed.
"Neither the European Commission, nor the European
Council, nor the European Parliament protected the
Schengen Treaty."
World's youngest leader:
Sebastian Kurz, 31, declares
victory in Austria election
Mon, October 16, 2017
Austrian election 2017: The Austrian People's Party
emerged as the largest party in the National
Council, winning 61 of the 183 seats
PLAY
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, the
leader and top candidate of the Austrian Peoples
Party (OeVP) addresses his supporters during an
OeVP's election party after the Austrian Federal
Elections [EPA]
EPA 1 of 22
In a letter to the new Austrian leader this week, Mr
Juncker urged him to to build a “pro-European
government” in a clear warning against joining with the
FPO.
He wrote: “Soon, Austria will play an outstanding role
being the presidency of the council of the European
Union.
“Under Austria's responsibility a number of important
decisions regarding the European Union will have to be
made.
“Therefore I wish you great success building a stable
and pro-European Government and I look forward to
working together in the future.”

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