Karner announces the opening of asylum files for 7,000 Syrians and tightening of deportation policy
Interior Minister **Gerhard Karner** emphasized the need for a new immigration policy in Europe that focuses on reducing the number of arrivals and increasing deportations, while reopening asylum cases for thousands of previously protected Syrians, asserting that the current European approach is insufficient.
Details of the news indicate that Karner clarified that the mechanism for distributing migrants within the European Union does not represent a practical solution for Austria, considering that the country has received large numbers in recent years and that what is needed is to prevent the entry of undeserving migrants instead of distributing them. The minister announced that the government is working on an approach that includes asylum procedures outside the European Union, establishing return centers in third countries, and enhancing external border protection, with the possibility of involving the army when necessary. He also proposed a government plan to establish special detention places for minors under 14 years old who commit repeated crimes, considering it a means to deter early criminal behavior.
According to the Austrian news agency, Karner announced that Austria has deported Syrians and Afghans convicted of serious crimes directly to their countries, emphasizing that this should become a general European rule. The minister also revealed that his ministry has opened about 7,000 asylum cases for Syrians who received protection over the past five years, aiming to verify whether they still need that protection. He also indicated that a similar step will include asylum cases concerning Afghan citizens in the upcoming period.
The official information also includes warnings about new security risks arising from the flow of weapons from conflict areas following the war in Ukraine, along with the possibility of dangerous equipment, including drones, reaching organized crime networks. Karner mentioned that the past months have seen an increase in drone incidents targeting vital facilities such as airports, and that the government is working on developing an updated defense strategy that includes closer coordination between the police, the military, and the authorities responsible for airports.
The minister has reiterated his complete rejection of what is called the "solidarity mechanism" in the European Union for the distribution of migrants, emphasizing that this formula does not provide practical solutions. Karner believes that Europe needs a system that prevents the arrival of undeserving migrants in the first place, with an expansion of deportations, the establishment of asylum centers outside Europe, and the implementation of strict border protection to ensure a sustainable reduction in the number of arrivals, while confirming that Austria will not accept any additional commitments in the distribution of migrants.