July 25, 2018
In an article titled “This European Border Is Still Open. But for How Long?”, The New York Times visits the border of Austria and Slovenia and finds a fear of mass migration, along with that of a return of routine border checks.
The story, by Katrin Bennhold, recounts how the region of Styria was once unified under the Hapsburg Empire, then became divided after Word War 1 into Upper and Lower areas, in Austria and Yugoslavia, respectively, with the latter area becoming part of Slovenia in 1991. The border between the two countries then dissolved in 2007, when Slovenia joined the Schengen Area.
A recent Austrian military exercise at the border, with the “migrants” played by students
However, the peak of the Balkan Route, in 2015, saw thousands of migrants cross the border, on days that are well-remembered by local residents, who voice their anger and fear in the article. Although the number of illegal crossings has fallen significantly since, in recent weeks the Austrian military have become more active. Moreover, while Chief Inspector Fritz Grundnig of the Austrian police notes that there’s been a large increase in the sale of small arms in the area: ‘“Crime is down, but fear is up,” he said. “That is the paradox we have to fight.”’
The article presents the story using interviews with people from both sides of the border, with a special focus on wine makers whose land, and workforce, includes both countries. You can read the whole thing here, and if you’ve gone over your limit just open it in “incognito” mode.
