Stocker, ahead of his meeting with German officials, underlined the importance of strengthening measures at the EU's external borders.

Ahead of the official meeting in Berlin, Stocker stressed the importance of protecting the EU's external borders and asylum procedures in these areas. Austria supports closer European cooperation in migration management and the European Commission's proposals to speed up returns. Germany's recent measures to step up internal border controls have been criticized by member states for their effects on free movement within the Schengen area.