Family reunification for asylum entitled: National Council enforces stop!

Family reunification for asylum entitled: National Council enforces stop!

Österreich - On Friday, the National Council decided to regulate the temporary stop of the family reunification for asylum -entitled and subsidiary beneficiaries. This decision is part of an ongoing debate about asylum policy in Austria, which is increasingly becoming the focus of the public. The new measures stipulate that direct relatives can continue to make applications for entry, but the procedures are inhibited. This regulation will come into force from mid -May and should apply for half a year, with the possibility of an extension until September 2026.

critics argue that family reunification is actually delayed by the asylum procedure, which takes around eight months. Nevertheless, the focus is on family reunification and the associated legal framework in the current political debate. In the previous year, 8,234 applications were made for family reunification, in 2023 there were already 14,032 applications, which illustrates the urgency and the challenges in front of which the country is standing.

regulations and hardship cases

In the context of the new regulation, exceptions are provided, especially for children who live in the country of origin without sufficient caregivers, as well as for people with very good knowledge of German. These measures are intended to prevent vulnerable groups from getting into emergencies. Some parties, such as the CDU and CSU, advocate allowing family reunification to the beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. The legal expert Daniel Thym argues that this legal development is compatible with the Basic Law and European law.

The Prime Minister conference had already called for a suspension of family reunification in autumn. The different views between the CDU/CSU and SPD show the tensions within the coalition: While the CDU/CSU wants a suspension, the SPD and the Greens are committed to continued or facilitating the follow -up.

additional legal considerations

The discussion is also reinforced by the legal framework that affects family reunification. According to the European guidelines, an individual examination of the cases is required after two years, which could theoretically enable a tightening right. Another frequently mentioned argument is that the current suspension could be legally problematic, which could unintentionally strengthen extremist positions. A long -term suspension could be legally permissible as long as individual considerations are taken into account.

The opposition, represented by numerous MPs, calls for a return to a more human asylum policy that also focuses on family reunification. In particular, the situation for Syrian refugees is viewed critically, since 78.5 percent of Syrian men who have received subsidiary protection are able to catch up with their families. Nevertheless, access to these options is difficult due to the current regulations.

The emotional debate about family reunification also leads to other social issues. An application against the prohibition of the Pride parade in Hungary presented the MPs before some moral dilemmata. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that these topics are concerned with compliance with European basic values. The majority of MPs spoke out for compliance with the rights of LGBTQIA+person in Hungary.

Overall, the complexity of asylum policy is reflected in the ongoing discussions, which integrates not only legal but also humanitarian aspects. The outcome of the debates could have sustainable effects on future asylum policy in Austria and beyond.