Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) sees the Austrian asylum system “at the limit of resilience”. Refugees are responsible for this because of their origin, who have almost no chance of a residence status. This is underpinned by the interior minister in the APA interview with the July figures. This month, people from India were the ones with the most applications, despite the fact that not a single citizen of this country was granted asylum in the first half of the year.
Karner wants to work, among other things, with “anti-marketing”. In countries of origin where the Minister of the Interior suspects economic migration, a campaign is to be launched soon that will present a counter-narrative to the promises made by the smugglers.
Over 40,000 applications in seven months
A total of 41,909 men and women applied for asylum in Austria from January through July. In the same period last year there were just over 14,000 applications. This year’s number is somewhat put into perspective by the fact that a number of refugees who actually only wanted to use Austria as a transit country were apprehended. According to Karner, more than 10,300 people have already evaded the procedure after registration.
The Minister of the Interior “strongly” rejects allegations that the numbers are being kept artificially high because the increased controls are also motivating those who do not want to stay in Austria to apply. He sees the corresponding border operations as no alternative because of the necessary fight against smuggling and out of consideration for the population in the Burgenland border regions.
Karner for stronger return counseling
Where there is still room for improvement within Austria, according to the Minister of the Interior, is the voluntary return of hopeless asylum seekers. 11,000 people would return to their home countries from Austria every year, 60 percent of them voluntarily – in Denmark, which Karner recently visited, the figure is 90 percent. Immediately after a negative first-instance decision, return counseling begins in their own return centers, which is not legally possible in Austria. Karner is at least considering changes: “This is a point where we may have to readjust some things.”
The interior minister also wants to take Denmark as an example when it comes to the procedures planned there in secure third countries – specifically Rwanda. Because of its special position in the EU, Denmark has the opportunity to structure procedures in this way. Karner wants a corresponding revision of the EU rules so that this is also possible for Austria: “I will do everything humanly possible to create a rethink at European level.”
Hoping for repatriation agreements
Another point in which Karner sees a need for the Union is repatriation agreements. Although these can be concluded bilaterally, negotiations between the countries of origin and the Commission are more effective. Above all, Karner is hoping for an agreement with India. Another country with a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers despite little chance of recognition is Tunisia. In July, citizens of the North African country already made up the third-largest group of asylum seekers, behind Indians and Afghans.
50 percent of Ukrainians staying in Austria “possibly a benchmark”
Hardly a factor in the asylum statistics are Ukrainians who, thanks to the exception rule, receive a residence permit in the Union – at least for one year, then again twice for half a year can be extended. The Minister of the Interior assumes that some of those who fled from the Russian aggression could find a permanent home in Austria. After the Yugoslav war, about 50 percent ultimately stayed here. This is “possibly a benchmark” for the Ukrainians.
Karner refuses to exclude the expellees from Ukraine from the statistics. Their support also entails costs and organizational measures: “That puts a strain on a system as a whole. That’s why we’ve reached the breaking point.” Karner does not confirm criticism that the federal states – especially those with upcoming state elections – are currently providing too few quarters, which means that the federal care is very full, with reference to the Ukraine expellees. You could see here that everyone was trying to find solutions: “I assume and I know that after all of us, all federal states are trying to meet their obligations.”