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Austria Offers €1,000 to Syrian Refugees for Voluntary Return After Assad's Fall

Dec 13, 2024, 03:03 PM

Austria has introduced a financial incentive for Syrian refugees to return to their homeland following the fall of the Assad regime. The Austrian government, led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, is offering a 'return bonus' of €1,000 to Syrians who choose to go back to Syria. This initiative aims to encourage voluntary deportations as part of Austria's response to the changing political landscape in Syria. The move comes amidst a suspension of asylum procedures for Syrian citizens in Austria, reflecting a broader European trend where several countries have paused asylum applications from Syria. The offer is part of a strategy to manage the large Syrian refugee population in Austria, which numbers over 95,000, with nearly 87,000 having received asylum since 2015, and another 17,500 receiving subsidiary protection. Austrian authorities had received 15,000 asylum requests, according to UN data from 2024.