A rapidly growing number of people believe that the remedial measures brought by Europe's until recently pro-migrant governments are only superficial and come far too late.

A recent survey shows that the vast majority of Austrians support stricter asylum policies, including halting family reunifications for migrants. According to the poll, over 80% of respondents favour tougher regulations, with 59% strongly supporting them and another 22% expecting moderate restrictions. Only 12% of Austrians opposed the draconian immigration policies.

Support for these measures is consistent across the political spectrum, with the majority of voters from all major parties backing the tightening of asylum rules. The survey follows the announcement by Austria’s new governing coalition—dubbed the „team of losers”—that a temporary “zero quota” would be implemented for family reunifications. Officials claim this step is necessary to address the current migration crisis and the strain on Austria’s social systems.

Cynics see the move as a symbolic gesture to appease supporters of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), which won the most seats in last year’s federal elections but was excluded from the new coalition after negotiations with establishment parties failed.

A Delayed Response

Many believe that Europe’s until recently pro-migration governments have already failed with their largely only superficial response, arguing that they have already allowed potential sources of threat into their countries, making any current policy changes too little, too late. Former French conservative Prime Minister Francois Fillon told Valeurs Actuelles magazine that after three years of war, Russia is now a much smaller threat than the “harmful Islamist ideology” that is flourishing across large parts of France. In his view, global peace is primarily threatened by two factors: the rivalry between China and the U.S., and the rise of Islamic totalitarianism.

While he believes political balance can be achieved between the two superpowers, he does not see a similar resolution when it comes to radical Islam. He added that this issue is much more pressing for Europe since it is rampaging in the Middle East and Africa, its direct neighbors, and has already spread across to the continent.

Fillon stated that the defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria has done little to weaken the movement, as its ideology remains deeply embedded in the Middle East and has now taken hold in Europe. He warned that this radical, authoritarian, and oppressive form of Islam is expanding not only in the Middle East but also in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and much of Africa. This, he emphasized, poses a real and immediate danger to Europe, its democratic and social values, and its legal system.