Austrian Minister of Interior, Gerhard Karner, urges the European Union to explore the possibility of repatriating migrants to Syria and Afghanistan, a move currently prohibited by EU law. Speaking at a gathering of EU Interior Ministers in Brussels, Karner emphasized the need for discussions on revising the EU-wide ban on repatriations to these nations, citing the significant proportion of asylum applications originating from these countries in Austria and across the EU.
Karner, representing the Christian democrat and liberal-conservative ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party), suggests that EU member states engage in dialogue to identify regions in Syria and Afghanistan deemed safe for repatriation. However, concerns remain regarding the safety of such returns, particularly in light of ongoing insecurity and humanitarian crises in these countries.
The push for repatriations comes amid a rise in EU-wide repatriation rates, attributed to enhanced cooperation between member states and the implementation of the Schengen Information System. Despite these efforts, questions persist regarding the ethical and logistical challenges of repatriating migrants, particularly in cases involving potential safety risks.
Meanwhile, migration continues to be a contentious issue in Austrian society and politics, with demographic trends highlighting the country’s increasing reliance on immigration for population growth. Against this backdrop, debates over migration policy and integration remain central to Austrian political discourse, shaping the country’s social landscape and political agenda.