In an interview with BILD am SONNTAG after the coalition agreement with the Greens, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz reaffirmed his strict migration and refugee policy.

Kurz sharply criticised the debate on the reception of refugee children from Lesvos and accused private sea rescuers of causing more deaths in the Mediterranean.

Kurz also sharply criticized Turkey for its approach to the refugee issue. The Austrian Chancellor called for consideration of sanctions in the EU, saying: "The Turkey deal is not working sufficiently and Greece deserves our full support.”

The Austrian politician continued; “We must not let ourselves be blackmailed by Turkish President Erdogan. In his country, political dissidents are persecuted, journalists are repeatedly imprisoned - and Turkey is trying to use refugees and migrants as weapons. There are always several ways of doing things, one works through cooperation, the other through pressure. The EU has many ways to put pressure on Erdogan. We should think about that as well."