Austria offers €1,000 to Syrian refugees for voluntary return after Assad's fall, citing Syria's need for rebuilding. Forced deportations remain on hold as the situation is reassessed.
Austria's conservative government announced it would offer Syrian refugees a "return bonus" of €1,000 ($1,050) to encourage voluntary repatriation following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer, responding to Assad's overthrow, stated that Syria's security situation must be reassessed to potentially allow deportations, though forced removals remain on hold until the country's future becomes clearer.
For now, Austria has halted asylum applications for Syrians, focusing on voluntary returns, a move mirrored by over a dozen European nations. Syrians are the largest asylum-seeker group in Austria, where Nehammer faces pressure from far-right rivals advocating stricter immigration policies.
In a post on X, Nehammer emphasized Austria's support for Syrians willing to return, saying, "The country needs its citizens to rebuild."
However, with Austrian Airlines suspending Middle East flights, the €1,000 bonus may not fully cover travel costs, such as a one-way ticket to Beirut, which currently exceeds €1,060 on Turkish Airlines.
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party recently won 29% of the vote in parliamentary elections, but a lack of coalition partners left Nehammer negotiating with Social Democrats and liberal Neos to form a government.
Austria has shut down nearly two dozen border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia in a bid to contain the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, as authorities intensify checks and prepare for potential cases within the country.
The new Austrian Government has discontinued the reunification of family members for asylum claimants in the country with immediate effect citing widespread concerns on immigration.
Coalition of conservative, social democratic, and liberal parties prevents far right from governing
Austria's three top centrist parties in parliament have reached a deal to form a coalition government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) and plan to present it later on Thursday, five months after the FPO won the last parliamentary election.
Villach, Austria—A 14-year-old boy was killed and four others critically injured in a knife attack, with police detaining a Syrian asylum seeker
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The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
Iran and the U.S. are set for a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on sanctions relief and guarantees over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to draft a peace deal by May 2 and stop backing armed groups, as part of new efforts to end conflict in eastern Congo.
Iran and the U.S. are set for a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on sanctions relief and guarantees over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
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