Family reunification: Sharp criticism of the federal government in Vienna!

Family reunification: Sharp criticism of the federal government in Vienna!

The Austrian federal government's decision to suspend family reunification for people entitled to protection has met with strong criticism. Judith Pühringer, top candidate for the Vienna Greens, describes this measure as a “declaration of bankruptcy at all levels”. According to Pühringer, the project primarily affects women and children, as 68% of those affected are children and another 30% are women. Their demand is clear: “Accesses for families should not be closed while integration efforts are called for.” This legally questionable decision comes at a time when the number of family reunifications is already declining, which further increases the cynicism of this policy, according to Pühringer. This opinion is supported by various experts who classify the measure as untenable in terms of human rights. What is particularly unfortunate for Pühringer is the support for this policy from the SPÖ, which she describes as a “smoke grenade”.

Family reunification in Germany: Decline in visas

A similar trend can be seen in Germany: Like that South German newspaper reported, fewer visas for family reunification were issued in 2024 than in the previous year. In total, around 115,000 people received permission to move to Germany to be with their relatives, a slight decrease compared to 131,000 in 2023. The majority of these visas did not go to relatives of refugees, but to family members of people who regularly live in Germany. The results show that only a small proportion of family reunification is associated with refugee migration, which further fuels the political debate about family reunification.

The situation is perceived to be particularly critical for refugee family children whose loved ones are not allowed to follow suit due to bureaucratic hurdles. Pühringer emphasizes that many children and their mothers are separated because of this restrictive policy. In addition, waiting times for visa appointments have been extended, further increasing tensions between the political positions of the parties. The debate about family reunification remains a sensitive and controversial topic, with the weakest in society particularly affected.