European countries have halted asylum applications from Syrians as of Monday following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad‘s regime. This decision affects tens of thousands of pending claims and reflects rising support for the far-right and the conservatives that envisage restricting immigration.
The Berlin interior ministry stated it would only process asylum requests once there is more clarity regarding the political situation in Syria. This pause does not impact granted asylum cases. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser noted that assessments will rely on developments in Syria and that it is too early to determine if it is safe to return.
Austria, Denmark, and Greece have also suspended Syrian asylum requests. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer ordered a halt to ongoing applications and family reunifications, with a review of cases already granted asylum. Denmark is allowing rejected asylum seekers more time to stay due to uncertainty, while Greece paused about 9,000 Syrian applications. Norwegian authorities have similarly stated they will neither approve nor deny Syrian asylum applications.
Syrian refugees in Germany
In 2015, Germany welcomed a significant influx of asylum seekers during the peak of Syria’s 13-year civil war. Today, the country is home to nearly one million Syrians, making it the largest Syrian community in Europe. According to data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Syria is the top country of origin for asylum seekers in Germany this year, with 72,420 applications submitted by the end of November. Of these, approximately 47,270 applications are still undecided.
Germany is preparing for a snap election scheduled for February, with far-right and conservative parties leading in opinion polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has instrumentalised the migration issue for years, exaggerating the negative impacts of immigrants on the German economy and society. Not surprisingly, an Infratest survey released on Friday revealed that voters consider migration to be Germany’s second most significant issue after the economy.
