Austria approves the implementation of the new European asylum agreement and tightens procedures.
The Austrian cabinet has approved the implementation of the new EU asylum rules, a move that paves the way for the application of the Common European Agreement on Asylum and Migration as of June 12, according to Austrian broadcaster ORF.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stressed that the decision represents a key step towards implementing the agreement at the European level, while Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler described it as a major shift from chaos to order, and Yannick Shetty expressed his satisfaction with the new package.
The draft law includes a series of legal amendments that will be submitted to Parliament for approval, with the aim of preparing the legislative framework before the agreement enters into force. Among the most prominent new measures are expanding the authorities' powers to detain asylum seekers, particularly after their arrival at airports, as well as imposing additional restrictions on movement and the possibility of reducing basic assistance in cases of misconduct.
The amendments also include expediting asylum procedures in certain cases, such as for those coming from countries considered safe or in cases where there are doubts about identity or nationality. Under the new system, these applications must be resolved within a period not exceeding three months.
As part of enhanced monitoring, the Eurodac system will be expanded to include facial recognition alongside fingerprinting, with the age for biometric data registration being lowered to six years instead of 14.
Voluntary return programs for asylum seekers will also be intensified, through expanding counseling and support services, in addition to the possibility of imposing what is called “residential obligation” on people required to leave the country, in order to facilitate their return procedures.
The amendments also stipulate that the Federal Office for Foreigners and Asylum will manage family reunification quotas, within a more organized framework for the process.
This move reflects a general European trend towards tightening asylum policies and speeding up procedures, amid increasing pressure on immigration systems within the European Union.