On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers gave the green light for negotiations on a migration agreement with Uzbekistan.
If concluded successfully, the agreement could in the future lead to the Central Asian country accepting asylum seekers rejected in Austria, including those from other countries. According to the Council of Ministers’ decision, the agreement is to cover, among other things, the return and readmission of its own nationals as well as third-country nationals. Uzbekistan is a neighboring country of Afghanistan.
Admission and Transit
The pact is intended not only to address the admission of individuals but also the transit of persons subject to deportation. In addition, the Council of Ministers stated that the agreement is to expand the exchange of information on opportunities for legal migration of skilled workers, students, researchers, their family members, and school pupils through clearly defined procedures.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) emphasized in a statement that the government intends to take a firm stance toward those who have no right to remain in Austria or who abuse that right. This requires not only consistency domestically but also strong partnerships abroad: “Through cooperation such as this with Uzbekistan, we are creating the necessary framework conditions to consistently implement decisions under the rule of law and to put an orderly migration policy into practice.”
Deportations are part of a tough and fair asylum policy, said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). In the upcoming negotiations, the joint fight against illegal migration, for example through the possibility of transit during deportations, will be a central focus.
