Vienna — Austria has formally approved a temporary suspension of family reunification for refugees, a move the government says is necessary to ease pressure on the country’s overstretched infrastructure, as reported by the “Der Stanadard”. The decree was signed off by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday and is expected to take effect within days, pending final approval by the parliamentary main committee.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner defended the controversial decision, attributing it to what he described as a growing burden on Austria’s social and educational systems. Speaking to reporters, Karner cited an uptick in youth crime—particularly involving young Syrian males—and the need to construct makeshift classrooms from shipping containers as signs of an overwhelmed system.
While the measure may have limited immediate impact—only 70 individuals were admitted under family reunification in May—the government insists that halting even those few applications is a necessary step toward what Karner called a “sustainable solution.”
Under the new rule, family reunification applications will be accepted but not processed for at least six months, except in rare humanitarian cases. Exceptions include minors in Austria without guardians or children left behind by fleeing parents.
Austria has also renewed efforts to resume deportations to Syria, which have largely been suspended due to ongoing regional conflict. A recent attempt to deport a convicted Syrian criminal failed only because airspace was closed during military escalation in the Middle East. Karner declined to elaborate on future deportation plans but reaffirmed his goal: the resumption of removals to Afghanistan and Syria, especially in cases involving criminals or individuals deemed security threats.
“We must protect our society,” Karner said. “This is about maintaining order and relieving pressure on our communities.”
The move has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, who warn it risks deepening the isolation of refugee families and ignoring the humanitarian consequences.
