GETTY Austria received 88,000 asylum applications in 2015

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This cannot become a permanent state of affairs Austrian president Heinz Fischer

The figures, which expose a worrying new angle on the migrant crisis, have been slammed as unsustainable by the country’s president. After announcing the figures at a press conference on Wednesday, Heinz Fischer said: “This cannot become a permanent state of affairs.” Mr Fischer said Austria received 88,000 applications last year, with the number of live births estimated to be similar to 2014’s total of just 82,000.

GETTY Migrants passing into Austria from Hungary

The statistics were revealed amid rising tensions between migrants and native Austrians. Eight people were charged with assault last week when scuffles broke out at the performance of a pro-migrant play. Protesters in the audience, police said, carried banners with slogans including the phrase “multiculturalism kills.”

Express A map showing how Austria and Switzerland are shutting off their borders

GETTY Pro- and anti-migrant protestors in Vienna

It also follows efforts by Austria to shore up its borders ahead of the summer migrant season, with the crossings to Italy now effectively sealed off. With a bottle-neck in Greece, where borders are now blocked with fences, migrants are making alternate attempts to get into Europe via Sicily. Thousands are now arriving by boat every day, before they attempt to reach mainland Italy and begin a journey north through Austria towards northern Europe. In response, checks will begin from June on Austria’s Brenner Pass, the major motorway linking the two countries. A €1million tightening of borders is also planned, with large fences proposed at the Moschendorf, Heiligenbrunn, Heiligenkreuz and Nickelsdorf border crossings. The EU Commission has described the move, outlined by Austrian interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, as worrying given the Brenner Pass’ importance as a key Alpine crossing point - particularly for heavy goods vehicles.

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