Austria reduces asylum seeker numbers
The number of deportations of asylum seekers from Austria, in the first half of this year, has surpassed the number of asylum applications registered by authorities in the country,
The same source showed that 22,990 asylum applications in Austria were registered in the first half of this year, accounting for a 30 per cent decrease compared to the figures of the same period last year. While in June, the numbers marked an even more profound decrease, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The Interior Minister mentioned three measures that the Ministry has taken in order to reduce the number of asylum applications:
- Border controls
- Rapid Asylum procedures
- Repatriations
The Minister emphasised that the country supports states such as Hungary, Serbia and Macedonia in protecting their borders by means of border point controls. He stressed that, at present, there are 130 police officers on duty to help fight cross-border crime.
Secondly important measures are efficient with fast asylum procedures.
“People from countries like Morocco, Bangladesh or India, who have practically no chance of asylum, go through fast asylum procedures,” the statement reads.
In the first half of this year, the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) processed 4,360 quick and urgent procedures (28 days). The statement noted that a large number of asylum seekers therefore leave the country before the procedure is finished.
The third measure, according to the Ministry, is repatriation. In the first half of this year, a total of 5,872 repatriations to home countries have been carried out by the BFA.
“By consistently taking people out of the country, we are thwarting the business model of the smuggling mafia and securing the asylum system for those who actually need it. Without the enforcement of final asylum decisions, there can be no credible asylum system,” Interior Minister Karner noted.
The Ministry noted that Austrian authorities will continue to apply the brakes on asylum and also will continue to urge European authorities to implement the measures that have been decided.
The Minister said; that only with consistent external border protection, asylum procedures at the external border and procedures in third countries would it be possible to apply the asylum break in Austria and other European countries.
Source: Schengen visa news
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