Austria halts family reunification to save education
The Interior Minister warns that the school system cannot take on any more pupils. Vienna is the city most affected by the mass arrival of children.
School of Austria
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The government is curbing family reunification as of Wednesday 12 March. The Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, explained this to the European Commission on 11 March. He argues that the education system cannot take on any more pupils and that public services are at risk.
According to official sources, the measure will be based on Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This article allows restrictions to be applied when migration endangers the State's services.
The government says that in In two years, almost 18,000 people have arrived through family reunification.. Of these, more than 2,200 are school-age children. Most have settled in Vienna, where schools are overcrowded.
Dramatic measures to limit entry
The government had already curtailed family reunification for Syrians. After the change of power in Damascus, all applications were halted. Now, the next step could be to extend this restriction to other nationalities.
This decision clashes with international migration agreements. Austria is part of a European pact that facilitates family reunification. Nevertheless, Karner insists that the country cannot manage any more arrivals.
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The new Austrian government is made up of three parties that lost the election (the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberal NEOS party).
The three parties have joined forces to halt the rise of Herbert Kickl's Freedom Party (FPÖ). This party won the election with radical proposals such as controlling Islam, drastically restricting immigration and strengthening nationalism to preserve Austrian traditions.
Austria steps up surveillance of political Islam
The new Austrian government is intensifying the fight against religious extremism. After several plots linked to ISIS and the FPÖ's victory, security measures against Islam will be strengthened.
Specifically, it has decided to strengthen the organisation's Centre for Documentation on Political Islam. This body was established in 2020 to monitor Islamist groups and combat extremism. This initiative is one of the most robust in Europe and has received praise and support from the United Arab Emirates.
The centre caused controversy with a report on the Muslim Brotherhood presented in Vienna in 2021. The study revealed that the group had significant influence in Europe and that several public institutions were unwittingly funding it with funds intended for minorities.
Under the new government, the centre will become a government department with greater autonomy and capacity for action. This will allow it to interact directly with Parliament and respond to MPs' questions.
A government determined to combat religious extremism at home and abroad.
The coalition agreement emphasises the need to strengthen the bodies responsible for security, cohesion and integration to ensure their effectiveness.
Furthermore, Austria is seeking to strengthen cooperation with other European countries on security matters. The exchange of information and experiences is key to tackling a threat that crosses borders. This international collaboration is seen as an essential element in the fight against terrorism and religious extremism.
The stepped-up monitoring of political Islam in Austria reflects the new government's determination to combat religious extremism. Through a combination of security measures and social initiatives, it aims to ensure citizens' safety and promote harmonious coexistence among all communities.