India signs pact with Austria on curbing illegal migration, calls self 'strong votary of legal migration & mobility'

Following inking mobility pacts with countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Finland, India on Monday (2) signed an 'Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement' (MMPA) with Austria for migration and mobility of its students and professionals.

During a joint press statement, Austrian foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg spoke over the issues that his country has faced with regards to 'illegal immigration' and characterising that as an "explosion", said, “Last year we witnessed exploding number of Indians who arrived at the borders of Austria as illegal immigrants... over 100,000. Also, we had an exploding number of Indians coming illegally via Serbia to Austria. From around 600 applications in 2021, the number of Indian citizens applying for asylum had suddenly become 18,000 last year.”

“Most importantly, today we just initialled a Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement. This is of strategic importance for my country, Austria. This is a sign of very intensified cooperation in a matter which is of high importance to us. Because last year we experienced the highest number ever of asylum seekers in Austria — over one hundred thousand. And we had exploding numbers of Indians coming illegally via Serbia to Austria,” he said.

India welcomed the agreement and emphasised that it was indeed a strong votary of “legal migration and mobility”.

"We have today concluded a number of agreements and you heard from the foreign minister in that regard. And I think a particularly noteworthy one is the initiation of the Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement. Because it will enable demands for skills and talents to be synchronised with their availability. Similar agreements have been recently concluded by India with Germany, France, Portugal, the UK and Denmark, amongst others,” Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's external affairs minister, said.

“Let me also be clear that as a country that seeks to utilise the global workplace to the fullest advantage, India is a strong votary of legal migration and mobility. Irregular movement not only enhances the vulnerability of the people involved but is inherently exploitative. We want a fair, legal and equal opportunity to demonstrate the contributions of Indian skills and talents,” he added.

The two countries also discussed economic cooperation, food security, and energy security crisis owing to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine situation and nuclear safety, as well as India’s presidency of the G20.

This is the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Austria in 27 years.