The Austrian government has announced a temporary initiative to encourage Syrian refugees to return voluntarily to Syria.
The initiative includes financial incentives of up to €3,000 per person, during the period from July through September.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the initiative comes as part of efforts to support the voluntary return of Syrians after the political developments Syria witnessed over the past period.
Karner noted that about 2,000 Syrians have left Austria since the change of power in Damascus about a year and a half ago, either voluntarily or through deportation procedures.
The program distinguishes between two categories of beneficiaries. People covered by subsidiary protection, or whose asylum applications are still pending and who receive basic care, will receive up to €3,000 upon voluntary return.
Other asylum seekers will see their allocated assistance rise to €1,500, up from €1,000 previously.
The Austrian interior minister said voluntary return is the better option financially compared with other procedures, stressing that the initiative helps support reconstruction efforts in Syria while also easing burdens and pressure on systems in Austria.
Karner did not provide estimates for the number of Syrians expected to return under the program, noting that results will be evaluated after the three-month period ends.
He also ruled out any increase in the value of the financial incentives, even if the number of returnees is lower than expected.
Elisabeth Wenger-Donig, head of the body responsible for implementing the initiative, confirmed that the authorities will launch awareness campaigns and distribute information materials about voluntary return opportunities, in addition to directly contacting people eligible to benefit from the initiative.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, according to Karner, Austrian authorities have reviewed about 13,000 files of Syrians residing in the country, reducing or canceling protection statuses for about 4,400 of them.
By contrast, the Austrian Freedom Party criticized the initiative, saying that allocating money to returnees places a burden on Austrian taxpayers.
In an interview conducted by the Austrian magazine “Profil” with Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, he renewed his commitment to the Interior Ministry’s approach on migration and domestic security.
Karner said Austrian authorities continue to review asylum applications submitted by Syrian citizens since the fall of the Assad regime.
At the same time, the Austrian interior minister said many Syrians who have lived in Austria for years have managed to integrate well into society and contribute positively to the country’s labor market and social life.
Revocation Procedures Affect 1,971 Syrians in Austria
Data published by the Austrian website “Suedtirol News” on April 26 indicated notable shifts in migration and asylum, particularly concerning Syrians in Austria.
According to the figures, the number of voluntary departures reached 1,693, more than half of which received support, according to the website.
The report also pointed to a clear disparity between nationalities, as the number of Syrians who were forcibly deported remained relatively limited at 11 people, compared with 268 Syrians who left the country voluntarily.
The statistics showed that Syrians were particularly affected by residency and visa revocation procedures, as 3,061 revocation procedures were launched, including 1,971 cases involving Syrian citizens.
Similar Initiatives
The German government is considering offering new incentives to encourage Syrian refugees to return voluntarily to Syria.
Government sources told the German newspaper “Focus Online” that the Federal Ministry of the Interior is currently considering granting Syrian refugees a return bonus of up to €8,000.
The report indicates that returning refugees currently receive support of up to €1,000 to start a new life in Syria.
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