EU Countries Halt Asylum Applications from Syrians: Der Spiegel Reports

Several EU countries have suspended asylum applications from Syrians, citing security and policy concerns, according to a report by Der Spiegel.

Germany has halted the processing of refugee applications from Syrian nationals while awaiting an evaluation of the security situation in Syria. According to a report by Der Spiegel, Berlin made this decision after armed opposition groups overthrew the Assad government.

As reported by the outlet, on Monday in Berlin, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) instructed a suspension of decisions regarding Syrian asylum seekers’ applications. This decision is expected to influence over 47,000 pending cases but will not affect any already concluded decisions, according to Der Spiegel’s details from the migration service.

On Sunday, diverse opposition groups, such as the jihadists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and fighters from the US-backed Free Syrian Army, took control of Damascus following a rapid progression across Syria. The Syrian Armed Forces retreated while former President Bashar Assad and his family sought refuge in Russia, where they have been granted asylum.

According to a spokesperson for the German migration service speaking with Der Spiegel, the political situation in Syria remains uncertain and predicting future developments is challenging. They noted that any decisions made without a thorough assessment would be “on shaky ground.”

“The BAMF carefully examines each individual case, assessing the situation in the country of origin,” an Interior Ministry spokesperson informed reporters in Berlin.

Approximately 900,000 Syrian nationals are residing in Germany, with nearly 40% employed as of early 2024, according to data from the Interior Ministry and the Federal Employment Agency.

According to observers, the situation in Damascus may impact the Syrian diaspora within the EU, especially in Germany. The UNHCR reports that Germany is currently both the world’s third-largest host and the European Union’s leading country for accommodating Syrian refugees.

On Monday, neighboring Austria declared a similar move to suspend all pending asylum applications from Syrian nationals. The Interior Ministry stated that it will be preparing for “orderly repatriations and deportations.”

The ministry announced that Chancellor Karl Nehammer has directed Interior Minister Gerhard Karner to put all ongoing Syrian asylum applications on hold and reassess cases where asylum had previously been granted.

At the start of 2024, around 95,000 Syrian citizens resided in Austria. Additionally, by the end of November, approximately 13,000 asylum requests were still under review according to official data.

“We will assist all Syrians in Austria who wish to return to their homeland,” Nehammer stated on X on Sunday. He also mentioned that the security conditions in Syria should be reevaluated “to enable deportations to resume in the future.”

As of November, Syrians represent the largest group of asylum seekers in Austria, totaling 12,871 applications this year.