https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed A plan by Germany to turn back more asylum seekers at the Austrian border has a sparked legal and political backlash, with Austria warning it may refuse to accept returns. https://www.thelocal.at/20250506/can-germany-turn-back-asylum-seekers-at-austrias-border Tue, 06 May 2025 13:58:05 +0200 can-germany-turn-back-asylum-seekers-at-austrias-border Austria will pause refugee family reunifications from May, becoming the first EU country to do so. The ÖVP-led government cited integration challenges and system strain. https://www.thelocal.at/20250326/austria-to-pause-refugee-family-reunifications-starting-in-may Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:08:12 +0100 austria-to-pause-refugee-family-reunifications-starting-in-may Austria’s government has announced an immediate halt to family reunification for refugees, citing concerns about overstretched public services. Here's what the decision means and how it might affect those involved. https://www.thelocal.at/20250312/austria-suspends-family-reunification-with-immediate-effect Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:53:43 +0100 austria-suspends-family-reunification-with-immediate-effect Austria is revoking the refugee status of thousands of Syrians, leaving many uncertain about their future in the country. https://www.thelocal.at/20250305/they-dont-want-us-syrians-in-austria-face-uncertainty-as-policies-tighten Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:56:57 +0100 they-dont-want-us-syrians-in-austria-face-uncertainty-as-policies-tighten The number of asylum applications has dropped in Austria, but changes in the profile of those arriving are creating new demands and new policies. https://www.thelocal.at/20240422/how-a-change-in-the-profile-of-asylum-seekers-is-impacting-austria Mon, 22 Apr 2024 18:05:18 +0200 how-a-change-in-the-profile-of-asylum-seekers-is-impacting-austria Austrian mountain rescuers have saved a Syrian teen found injured and suffering from severe hypothermia, they said Tuesday, as new smuggling routes are being used to avoid stepped-up border controls in central Europe. https://www.thelocal.at/20240305/syria-teen-rescued-in-austria-mountains-as-new-smuggling-routes-used Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:38:57 +0100 syria-teen-rescued-in-austria-mountains-as-new-smuggling-routes-used Austria has seen a 49% decrease in asylum applications compared to this this time last year. But what's the reason for the fall? https://www.thelocal.at/20231127/whats-the-reason-behind-the-drop-in-austrian-asylum-seeker-claims Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:40:53 +0100 whats-the-reason-behind-the-drop-in-austrian-asylum-seeker-claims Eight EU nations including Austria called on Brussels to significantly toughen the bloc's borders to "prevent another large-scale migration crisis," according to a letter seen by AFP ahead of a key summit. https://www.thelocal.at/20230207/austria-demands-tougher-eu-borders-to-prevent-migration-crisis Tue, 07 Feb 2023 16:08:36 +0100 austria-demands-tougher-eu-borders-to-prevent-migration-crisis Austria voted against Bulgaria and Romania joining Europe's control-free travel zone, the Schengen area - although it did accept Croatia's entry. What are Vienna's arguments for rejecting the major expansion of the zone? https://www.thelocal.at/20221208/a-stupid-prank-why-has-austria-vetoed-enlargement-of-schengen-area Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:05:49 +0100 a-stupid-prank-why-has-austria-vetoed-enlargement-of-schengen-area The white tents that Austria is using to house asylum seekers in a handful of towns have drawn rebuke from refugees' defenders and critics alike, while stirring memories of the 2015 migrant crisis. https://www.thelocal.at/20221025/tents-for-asylum-seekers-stir-debate-in-austria Tue, 25 Oct 2022 12:01:45 +0200 tents-for-asylum-seekers-stir-debate-in-austria