British Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Home Secretary Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) signed a cooperation agreement today in Vienna that will bring bilateral police cooperation “to the cutting edge of technology,” as Karner later stated in a press conference with his counterpart.

He especially mentioned the area of ​​cybercrime. Other central points of the meeting were the fight against terrorism and immigration policy.

common goal

“The cross-border work of police and services” is especially necessary in the fight against terrorism, “and this intense and necessary exchange of information is also a central element of our cooperation agreement,” Karner said.

Braverman spoke of an agreement that would further consolidate and expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas such as organized crime, cybersecurity, radicalization and extremism. “These are common objectives and on which we can exchange knowledge and mutually benefit by working more closely,” said the conservative politician.

“Solid approach” to immigration policy

Karner mentioned as another central theme of the first personal meeting between the two ministers the “fight against illegal migration” and asylum procedures outside Europe through cooperation with safe third countries, countries of origin and transit.

The issue affects many countries, said Braverman, who also spoke of Austria following a “robust approach” here in the EU.

Great Britain and Denmark are developing corresponding models for asylum procedures outside Europe, which are interesting in this context and which he also discussed with his counterpart, Karner said.