Decline in asylum applications in Austria: What's behind it?

Decline in asylum applications in Austria: What's behind it?

In 2024, around 23,000 asylum applications were recorded in Austria by the end of November, which corresponds to a dramatic decrease of almost 60 percent compared to the previous year today.at reported. Andreas Achrainer, Managing Director of the Federal Agency for Care and Support Services, said that a reversal of the trend is not to be expected and that the falling number of applications has already led to two thirds of the federal care facilities being closed. These facilities now have to adapt to the new situation. Another interesting aspect is the willingness of some Syrians to return as their situation in their home country is being reassessed.

In the geopolitical context, the situation in Syria shows that the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad has far-reaching consequences. Russia, a key supporter of Assad, is under pressure as support for the regime wanes. This is highlighted by Middle East expert Gudrun Harrer, who says that if the Syrian army continues to disintegrate, Russia's influence in the region is at risk. Iran also sees itself in a critical situation because without Syria it will lose its territorial connection to Iraq and Lebanon srf.ch explained. With regard to the US, outgoing President Joe Biden viewed the fall as a success of his foreign policy and emphasized that support for Assad had been significantly weakened. These shifts in the geopolitical landscape suggest that refugee movements from Syria and the region as a whole could increase.

The impact on the refugee situation

The developments in Syria and the associated geopolitical changes could also have a significant impact on integration and social coexistence in Austria. The current situation in Ukraine further complicates the refugee and asylum situation, while Achrainer notes that the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the labor market remains crucial. The obligation to carry out charitable activities is well received by asylum seekers, which shows that many are willing to actively participate in social life and want to find out about Austria's values.