Current:Home > reviewsEU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back -FundCenter
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
View
Date:2025-04-15 12:03:45
BRUSSELS (AP) — Some European Union countries on Thursday doubled down on their decision to rapidly halt asylum procedures for Syrian migrants in Europe, but said that it was too early to consider sending any of the hundreds of thousands of people who have fled since 2011 back home.
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and non-EU country Norway suspended asylum applicationsfrom Syrians in the wake of Bashar Assad’s fall. France is weighing whether to take similar action, at least until Syria’s new leadership and security conditions become clearer.
The decisions do not mean that Syrian asylum-seekers will be deported. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, has said that currently “the conditions are not met for safe, voluntary, dignified returns to Syria.”
“We need to wait a few more days to see where Syria is heading now,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said. “What is the situation? What about the protection of minorities? What about the protection of the people? And then, of course, there could be repatriation.”
Asked by reporters whether it would make sense to organize repatriations at an EU level, Faeser said “it would be very expedient to organize this together.”
But she stressed that Syrians who work in Germany and abide by its laws are welcome to stay. Over 47,000 asylum claims by Syriansare pending in Germany, a main destination in Europe for those who have fled since 2011.
“This is not a long term pause as far as I’m concerned,” Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee told reporters. “It’s really positive that the Assad regime has come to an end. At the same time, we can all see that it’s not clear what will happen next.”
The arrival in Europe in 2015 of well over 1 million refugees –- most fleeing the conflict in Syria –- sparked one of the EU’s biggest political crises as nations bickered over who should host them and whether other countries should be forced to help. Those tensions remain even today.
Almost 14,000 Syrians applied for international protection in Europe this year up to September, according to the EU’s asylum agency. Around 183,000 Syrians applied for asylum in all of last year. On average, around one in three applications are accepted.
Already on Monday, despite deep uncertainty about the country’s future, hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkey, eagerly anticipating their return home following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government.
In the days since Assad’s abrupt fall, rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has sought to reassure Syrians that the group he leads — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS – does not seek to dominate the country and will continue government services.
HTS appears on the EU’s anti-terrorism sanctions list as an affiliate of Al-Qaeda. That freezes any assets it has in Europe and prevents European citizens and companies from doing business with the group or funding it. Al-Golani is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.
Belgium’s interior ministry said Thursday that the whole of the 27-nation EU must monitor Syrian migration flows, amid concern that Assad loyalists might seek refuge in Europe.
It said that around 100 of its nationals are in Syria, and that intelligence services believe that eight of them might have links to HTS.
On Tuesday, the EU’s top diplomat expressed concern that Syria might violently fall apart like neighboring Iraq, or Libya and Afghanistan if its territorial integrity and the rights of minorities are not protected.
“The transition will present huge challenges in Syria and in the region,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told European lawmakers during a special hearing.
The U.N.’s refugee agency has called for “patience and vigilance” in the treatment of Syrians who have sought international protection, and believes that much will depend on whether Syria’s new leaders are prepared to respect law and order.
___
Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (9254)
Related
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- The Best Early Prime Day Fashion Deals Right Now: $7.99 Tops, $11 Sweaters, $9 Rompers & More
- The Fate of Thousands of US Dams Hangs in the Balance, Leaving Rural Communities With Hard Choices
- House explosion that killed 2 linked to propane system, authorities say
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- House explosion that killed 2 linked to propane system, authorities say
- Jenna Dewan Shares Cheeky Message After Finalizing Channing Tatum Divorce
- Kylie Jenner's Pal Yris Palmer Shares What It’s Really Like Having a Playdate With Her Kids
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Michael Kors’ Secret Sale on Sale Is Here—Score an Extra 20% off Designer Handbags & More Luxury Finds
Ranking
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Indicted New York City mayor adopts familiar defense: He was targeted for his politics
- Chappell Roan drops out of All Things Go music festival: ‘Things have gotten overwhelming’
- Woman loses over 700 pounds of bologna after Texas border inspection
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Latina governor of US border state will attend inauguration of Mexico’s first female president
- Arkansas couple stunned when their black Nikes show up as Kendrick Lamar cover art
- Alabama carries out the nation's second nitrogen gas execution
Recommendation
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Beware: 'card declined' message could be the sign of a scam
Reese Witherspoon's Son Tennessee Is Her Legally Blonde Twin in Sweet Birthday Tribute
Recent major hurricanes have left hundreds dead and caused billions in damages
The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
New law requires California schools to teach about historical mistreatment of Native Americans
Machine Gun Kelly talks 1 year of sobriety: 'I can forgive myself'
Ex-regulator wants better protection for young adult gamblers, including uniform betting age