Karner: Asylum procedures in Austria should become an absolute exception
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced a major shift in the country's asylum policy, pointing to a plan that makes asylum procedures within Austria and the European Union a rare exception. He emphasized that deportations to Syria and Afghanistan should become the general rule instead of individual cases, aiming to significantly reduce illegal immigration.
Karner explained that the government aims to reduce illegal immigration by dismantling smuggling networks and expanding the implementation of asylum procedures at the external borders of the European Union or outside Europe entirely, a strategy that reflects a long-term goal of reducing asylum applications within Austria.
As part of the plan, the main reception center for refugees in Vienna will be closed by the end of the year, leaving only one small center in Linz. The responsibility for operating the reception centers will be transferred to the state governments, while the federal government's role will be limited to funding only. Starting in 2026, some arrivals, including Ukrainians, may remain without temporary shelter if the states choose not to operate these centers, which Karner described as a deliberate decision by the states.
Regarding family reunification, Karner stated that a new quota model is being prepared to replace the current freeze. The new model will take into account factors such as education, social system, and security, including juvenile delinquency, without specifying the number of future cases.
Karner also expressed Austria's support for European proposals regarding the processing of asylum applications in centers outside the European Union, including the possibility of deporting rejected asylum seekers to third countries. Austria has joined a Dutch-led initiative to conclude agreements with countries such as Uganda, and there is consideration of relocating Afghan asylum seekers to African countries, with a preference for keeping refugees in their original regions to facilitate their return later. Security cooperation with Hungary continues effectively to combat illegal immigration, and despite the heightened level of terrorist threat during the holiday season, Karner confirmed that the overall security situation in Austria is stable.