Karner welcomes the classification of Damascus as a safe area and calls for stricter asylum decisions
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced that a new assessment from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) could lead to an increase in the deportation of Syrian refugees. The agency has deemed Damascus 'safe enough' to be an internal alternative for asylum seekers.
The assessment indicates that many groups that previously enjoyed automatic protection, including opponents of the regime and those refusing military service, no longer face risks of persecution. However, some groups—the Alawites, Christians, Druze, and Palestinians who are no longer covered by international protection—still face risks, and persecution based on sexual orientation continues.
The EUAA described the overall security situation as "improving but volatile," emphasizing that Damascus does not pose a "real danger" to civilians. Karner considered these findings as a "crucial basis" for a "strict and fair" asylum policy, stressing that the assessment allows for more deportations from Austria and other European countries.
Austria relies heavily on EUAA assessments, which guide decisions in European courts and asylum administrations, including the Austrian Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA). This approach affects thousands of Syrians seeking protection. In the first ten months of the year, 3,600 Syrians applied for asylum in Austria, and 952 of them received full protection.
The Ministry of Interior is preparing to take further steps based on the EUAA report. At the same time, human rights organizations and asylum monitors are discussing the implications of classifying Damascus as a 'safe area', raising concerns about the potential risks for returning refugees.