Austria is set to cut benefits to immigrants

Austria’s coalition government has unveiled plans to cut benefit payments for immigrants and refugees.

The main benefit payment will be capped at €563 (£492) a month, rising to €863 – the amount Austrians receive – if they pass a German test.

Immigrants will also be barred from claiming such benefits for five years.

Conservative chancellor Sebastian Kurz has vowed a hard line on immigration. Mr Kurz campaigned in last year’s parliamentary election with pledges to cap benefits for refugees and to shut down migrant routes to Europe.

At a news conference yesterday, Mr Kurz said: “The fundamental rule we will introduce is that German will become the key to accessing the full minimum benefit. That means that whoever has insufficient language skills will not be able to claim the full minimum benefit.”

But the move could bring Austria into conflict with the rest of the EU, where rules require all member states’ citizens to be treated equally.