Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the measures, due to take effect on Monday, remain necessary to provide additional protection for Austria's border regions.

“The European Asylum Pact also requires the expansion and strengthening of external border protection,” Karner said.

The European Commission formally issued opinions advising Austria and eight other Schengen countries to begin phasing out long-standing internal border controls. The Commission recommended replacing these checks with regional police cooperation and alternative security measures to restore full free movement within the bloc.