Austria pushes for a permanent deportation policy to Syria and Afghanistan
Austria calls for stricter deportation rules within the European Union, as Interior Minister Gerhard Karner suggested that the deportation of convicted criminals to Syria and Afghanistan should become a permanent part of asylum policy.
According to the European Commission, the rate of deportation across the European Union rose from 19% in 2023 to 27% during the first quarter of 2025, a rate that could reach its highest level since 2019, as reported by the EU Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, to the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. Despite this increase, he noted that the numbers are still insufficient.
Brunner confirmed that addressing irregular migration should be done through the firm deportation of those who have lost their right to reside in the European Union, a swift rejection of asylum applications with low acceptance chances, and enhancing cooperation with countries outside the Union to prevent dangerous migration routes. Once the European Commission's proposals are implemented in early 2025, deportation processes are expected to become more effective.
In Austria, Karner emphasized that the deportation of convicted individuals to Syria and Afghanistan should become a routine procedure. He explained that Austria was the first country in the European Union last year to carry out such deportations directly to these countries, stressing that this measure is part of a strict and fair asylum policy.
However, Karner's proposals have drawn criticism from the Freedom Party. Security spokesman Genot Darman accused Karner of limiting the deportation of only a few Syrians and Afghans, despite over 15,400 asylum applications being registered by the end of November, with Afghans and Syrians representing about 57% of them. Darman called for a comprehensive halt to asylum instead of focusing only on deportation.
However, Karner's proposals have drawn criticism from the Freedom Party. Security spokesman Genot Darman accused Karner of limiting the deportation of only a few Syrians and Afghans, despite more than 15,400 asylum applications being recorded by the end of November, with Afghans and Syrians representing about 57% of them. Darman called for a comprehensive halt to asylum instead of focusing solely on deportation.