UN slams Europe's refugee policies

UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday hit out at what he called "increasingly restrictive" refugee policies in Europe as the continent faces its worst migrant crisis in decades.

Ban also said he was "alarmed by the growing xenophobia here" and elsewhere in Europe, in a speech to the Austrian parliament.

"I am concerned that European countries are now adopting increasingly-restrictive immigration and refugee policies," Ban told lawmakers.

"Such policies negatively affect the obligation of member states under international humanitarian law and European law. Divisiveness and marginalisation hurt individuals and undermine security."

His comments came a day after the Austrian parliament adopted one of Europe's toughest asylum laws, as the country's centrist government struggles to halt the surging far-right whose candidate won the first round of presidential polls on April 24.

The hotly-disputed legislation allows the government to declare a "state of emergency" if migrant numbers suddenly rise and reject most asylum seekers at the border, including those from war-torn countries like Syria.

If the mechanism is triggered, border authorities will only grant access to refugees facing safety threats in a neighbouring transit country or whose relatives are already in Austria.

Some groups including minors and pregnant women will be exempt from the rule.

Meanwhile, Italy and Austria were set for showdown talks yesterday as Italian politicians and media reacted furiously to Vienna's new anti-migrant measures that could close the border between the two countries.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has warned that closing the famous Brenner Pass in the Alps would be a "flagrant breach of European rules".