Austria offers 1,000 euros for refugees to return to Syria after Assad’s fall

Nehammer is known for his hard-line stance on immigration. He was one of the first leaders to react to Assad’s fall, indicating the possibility of forced deportation.

Magnus Brunner, European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, considers it premature to force the return of Syrians. He stated that the situation in Syria is still volatile and advocated focusing on voluntary returns.

Rebel forces have appointed an interim prime minister in Syria. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has promised to establish a “rule of law”, but there are uncertainties due to its jihadist roots.

More than a million people have been displaced within Syria since the fall of the regime. Part of them came from neighboring countries such as Türkiye, according to the UN.

Logistical challenges

Austrian Airlines has suspended flights to the region due to insecurity. A ticket to Beirut, a common point to go to Damascus, costs at least 1,066 euros, more than the bonus offered.
Growth of the anti-immigration agenda