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Defence minister Hans Peter Doskozil said strengthened security co-operation with countries along the route would help stem the flow of people and head off an escalation in the migrant crisis.

Mr Doskozil said: "The western Balkan route is still not as closed as it should be.

There are unfortunately still people-smuggling networks which are very active and a significant number of migrants.

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There are unfortunately still people-smuggling networks which are very active and a significant number of migrants

Hans Peter Doskozil

He warned the EUs controversial deal with Turkey to tackle the migrant crisis was no longer reliable as tensions between Ankara and Brussels continue to grow.

He said: We must be prepared in case the government in Ankara opens the floodgates again.

According to Mr Doskozil between 500 and 1,000 refugees and migrants are arriving in Austria every week.

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He said Austria was now co-operating closely with 15 other countries along the Balkan route as well as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia which make up the Visegrad group.

He said: We are currently working on legislative amendments that would allow the government to deploy soldiers abroad, not just for humanitarian reasons.

Austrian troops could be sent within and outside the EU to help protect borders if necessary.

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An African migrant is helped by emergency personnel after crossing the border fence between Morocco and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta

Mr Doskozil said the number of migrants living within the EU illegally was "too high".

EU leaders recently agreed on a plan to reduce the flow of migrants from Libya which sees the North African countrys UN-backed government receive 170 million including funding to reinforce its coastguard.

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Austria demands new MILITARY FORCE to stop migrants using 'Balkan Route' into Europe - Express.co.uk