Karner: Intensive Consultations on Syria Deportations
"I'm not talking about mass deportations, but we can't just sit back and wait for others to do something," said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) in a press conference on Thursday in Brussels about planned deportations of Syrian refugees from Austria.
Asylum Procedures Suspended After Power Shift in Syria
Several EU countries - including Austria - have suspended their asylum procedures for Syrians who have fled the Assad regime since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in Syria by Islamist rebels on Sunday. In Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) had instructed Interior Minister Karner on Monday to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and to review all asylum grants. The EU Commission has so far not wanted to give advice on deportations, this is "the responsibility of the member states".
If the situation in the country of origin changes, the situation must be reassessed and the procedures suspended, Karner continued. "That's what happened." First, voluntary return should be supported: "The homecoming movement is already there, something is already happening." Last year there were about 100 voluntary returnees in Austria, so far this year about 70. He expects the number to increase significantly, said the interior minister. After the volunteers, Karner wants to proceed according to a "priority list", according to which people who are criminal, unwilling to adapt or work, should be deported first. About 40,000 Syrian citizens have received asylum status in Austria in the last five years.
Joint Deportations Also in the Interest of the EU Commission, According to Karner
Regarding Europe-wide cooperation, Karner said there were different levels of impact: countries like Austria, Germany and Sweden had taken in the most Syrians. In the past, deportations had already been organised together with Germany, for example, with joint charter flights. This has always been the case. It is also "in the interest of the EU Commission that there is a joint European initiative".
Another major topic of the meeting was the final approval for Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen area. Austria was the only EU country that had blocked this until recently. "Both countries have gained profile in the EU through these two years of hard work," Karner does not regret the veto that Austria lodged two years ago, for which Austria was "very scolded". It gave an "additional push" for these countries and the entire EU in the security area. The blockade was a "democratically legitimate means", Karner emphasised.
(APA/Red)
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