Germany and Austria Halt 47,270 Syrian Asylum Applications as Situation Becomes 'Too Unclear'

Dec 9, 2024, 12:38 PM

Germany and Austria have temporarily suspended decisions on 47,270 asylum applications from Syrian citizens, citing the "too unclear" and unpredictable situation in Syria. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in Germany announced that processing of these applications, including family reunification cases, will be paused until further notice, as current circumstances make accurate assessment challenging. Germany, which hosts the largest number of Syrians in Europe, emphasized that existing asylum statuses remain unaffected. Austria has taken similar measures, suspending all pending Syrian asylum requests and preparing plans for potential expulsions. Authorities in both countries are closely monitoring developments in Syria to determine future actions regarding asylum procedures.