Thousands marched in Hamburg, Berlin and other German cities on 25 October to protest Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent remark that migration had fundamentally altered the country’s ‘Stadtbild’. While the rallies targeted Berlin’s policies, Vienna was drawn into the debate when Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker told Kurier that Merz was ‘simply stating facts’ and that Austria would pursue comparable return and border-security measures.
Stocker’s comments come seven months after his coalition froze most family-reunification visas for recognised refugees—a move the government said is necessary to protect schools and integration budgets, but which NGOs call a breach of EU obligations. By publicly aligning with Merz, Stocker signals tighter cooperation with Germany on removals and on maintaining discretionary Schengen controls, including the ones Austria already applies at its Czech and Slovak borders.
For employers the message is clear: humanitarian or family-linked residence applications will remain politically sensitive and processing times are likely to lengthen. Companies relocating non-EU staff should build extra lead-time into dependent-visa dossiers and consider alternative EU jurisdictions for regional hub roles.
Stocker’s stance may also harden parliamentary negotiations over Austria’s planned Skilled Immigration Act 2.0, which business groups hope will broaden the Red-White-Red Card and ease labour shortages. Observers warn that political capital spent on deterrence measures could delay consensus on talent-friendly reforms.
Stocker’s comments come seven months after his coalition froze most family-reunification visas for recognised refugees—a move the government said is necessary to protect schools and integration budgets, but which NGOs call a breach of EU obligations. By publicly aligning with Merz, Stocker signals tighter cooperation with Germany on removals and on maintaining discretionary Schengen controls, including the ones Austria already applies at its Czech and Slovak borders.
For employers the message is clear: humanitarian or family-linked residence applications will remain politically sensitive and processing times are likely to lengthen. Companies relocating non-EU staff should build extra lead-time into dependent-visa dossiers and consider alternative EU jurisdictions for regional hub roles.
Stocker’s stance may also harden parliamentary negotiations over Austria’s planned Skilled Immigration Act 2.0, which business groups hope will broaden the Red-White-Red Card and ease labour shortages. Observers warn that political capital spent on deterrence measures could delay consensus on talent-friendly reforms.
