Germany and several other European countries have announced a pause on asylum decisions for Syrians, citing the ongoing uncertainty in their homeland after Bashar al-Assad’s grip starts to weaken.
In Germany, more than 47,000 asylum applications are currently pending, with authorities saying they will reassess the situation once things settle in Syria.
Germany’s Interior Ministry made it clear that the unstable situation means decisions can’t be made just yet. Interior Minister Nancy Feaser warned that it’s too soon to speculate on when Syrians might be able to return home.
As of October 31, 974,136 Syrians are registered in Germany, most with refugee or protection status.
Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer has followed suit, instructing officials to suspend asylum and family reunification decisions for Syrians, calling for more clarity on the situation.
Sweden, Finland, and Norway have also put decisions on hold, saying the current state of affairs in Syria makes it impossible to evaluate asylum claims. Sweden’s Migration Agency said it couldn’t determine why Syrians are seeking asylum at this time.
France, with 450 asylum applications from Syrians, is considering joining its EU neighbours in suspending decisions.
