Austrian asylum applications drop to pre-crisis lows

The number of asylum applications submitted in Austria last week dropped to a low not seen since April 2015, on the back of stricter asylum policy imposed by the government.

The interior ministry stated in new figures that only 820 applications had been received for the week, down from 1,229 a week earlier, and from 1,732 from Feb. 8 to 14.

The high point for applications was seen in the first week of November when the crisis was in full swing with 3,456 applications.

In a written statement, interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said the declining figures were the first signs her government's upper limit on asylum applications was having its intended effect.

She added, however, that this was no guarantee the downward trend could be maintained, and said all efforts must continue to be directed at achieving a joint European solution to the crisis. Until this happens, she said, Austria would continue to implement its own measures to tackle the problem.