Österreich will das Flüchtlingsprogramm sofort aussetzen: Einzelheiten

Die neu gewählte Drei-Parteien-Koalition in Österreich möchte das Programm zur Familienzusammenführung für Asylbewerber schließen. Erfahren Sie, was Flüchtlinge erwarten können

Rechtsberatung zu Migrationsfragen

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The new Austrian government has expressed a desire to immediately end the family reunification programme for asylum seekers. Here is what we know about the closure of the programme with reference to Taz.

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Why do they want to suspend the programme?

The Austrian three-party coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos, which has recently come to power, wants to immediately suspend the family reunification programme for asylum seekers. The Ministry of the Interior stresses that a large proportion of those who have entered the country under this programme are children, and they ‘put a strain on the education system in Austria’.

The date when the programme is to be suspended has not yet been announced. Federal Chancellor Christian Stoker (ÖVP) said that ‘immediately means now’. According to him, the EU regulation allows such steps if the state is overloaded.

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What is the situation with refugees in Austria?

The number of family reunifications has been declining sharply for several months. One of the reasons for this is mandatory DNA testing, which slows down the process. Last year, 7,760 people came to Austria through family reunification, and the year before that, 9,254.

Human rights organisations have criticised the planned suspension of family reunification. Aimee Stuflesser, an asylum expert at Amnesty International Austria, calls it an ‘inhumane and illegal measure’. This step deprives those who are eligible for protection of the only regular opportunity to bring their relatives to Austria. UNHCR Austria also describes the plan as ‘disturbing’.

Other plans

In general, the new government is adhering to a hardline migration policy. The authorities have reportedly not ruled out the possibility of stopping accepting asylum applications altogether if the system becomes overloaded.

The coalition also seeks to deport rejected asylum seekers more efficiently and wants to introduce audio recording in asylum procedures. The government programme also includes a mandatory integration year. Failure to participate may result in sanctions.

We remind you! The Spanish government has decided to extend the validity of Ukrainian refugee cards.

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