Representatives from both the German and Austrian governments have announced that they will no longer process asylum applications from Syrian nationals due to recent political developments in Syria.
Hundreds of Syrian refugees are returning to their homes following the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s government. While this change is seen positively by many Syrians, EU authorities have raised concerns about the connections between the victorious rebels and the Taliban in Afghanistan, which they view as a national security threat to Europe, according to Schengen.News.
Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees stated that, due to the “uncertain” political future of Syria, a total of 47,270 asylum applications will no longer be processed. However, decisions already made on applications will not be affected.
Austria has also halted the processing of 7,300 asylum applications from Syrian nationals. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed the freeze, noting that rebels had taken control of Damascus after 13 years of civil war, forcing President Assad to flee to Russia. During this conflict, millions of Syrians were forced to leave the country, with many relocating to Central Europe, particularly Germany. Syrian refugees have consistently been the largest group seeking asylum in the EU.
The Austrian minister mentioned that steps have been taken to address the situation, though he did not provide further details.
Germany’s stance on Syrian refugees has sparked public backlash, especially from Lamya Kaddor, a member of Germany’s Green Party. She expressed shock at the call for Syrian deportations, emphasizing the potential impact on the large Syrian community already in Germany. According to data from the European Union Agency for Asylum, there were 13,634 first-time asylum applications from Syrian nationals in August 2024, bringing the total number of Syrian applications to 14,045 by that time. Germany received 48% of these applications (6,753), while Austria received 5% (739).
