The Austrian federal government aims to secure the planned halt of family reunification permanently. On Tuesday, the responsible ÖVP ministers, Gerhard Karner (Interior) and Claudia Plakolm (Integration), discussed the framework conditions and necessary measures with experts from both ministries. The corresponding decision is expected to be made at tomorrow’s Council of Ministers.
Karner and Plakolm met with experts from the Interior Ministry, the Integration Section in the Chancellery, and the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) to discuss the challenges related to family reunification and integration. They agreed that the integration system must not be overloaded by family reunification.
Karner: Family Reunification Already “Drastically” Reduced
While family reunification had already been “drastically and massively” reduced over the past three quarters, Karner emphasized. In February 2024, the number of applications was still 2,400, but in February this year, it was only 60. Enhanced controls, inspections, and DNA tests have contributed to this reduction. Furthermore, last week, Karner informed the responsible commissioners at the EU level about the halt to family reunification. Karner cited the overburdening of the education, health, and social systems, as well as increasing youth crime, as reasons for the decision.
Government with a “Clear Position”
The federal government has a “clear stance” on integration, emphasized Minister Plakolm: “Anyone who wants to live here must become part of society.” A prerequisite for this is learning the language, participating in the labor market, and sharing the values. However, this is not possible due to the overburdening of the integration system by further migration. Plakolm pointed to the high number of illiterate people among asylum seekers and those with subsidiary protection, noting that one-third of them are illiterate even in their native language.
The unemployment numbers are also “dramatic,” according to Plakolm. Currently, 48,000 people from asylum and protection backgrounds are unemployed. Plakolm also expressed concerns about reports of children having to observe Ramadan against the recommendations of the Islamic Faith Community of Austria (IGGÖ): “Radical views are gaining increasing support.” The decision to halt family reunification was made to enable integration.
FPÖ Criticizes “ÖVP Trickery”
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) criticized what they saw as the “grandiose staging of an ÖVP sleight of hand.” The “loser coalition” is, according to FPÖ Secretary-General Michael Schnedlitz, planning the opposite of what Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP), Karner, and Plakolm are “pretending to the people,” namely, not a halt but a turbo charge for family reunification. After all, the government program plans language courses and orientation programs for family members to be reunited in their home country, paid for with Austrian taxpayer money, according to the FPÖ’s argument.
Concerns from Volkshilfe
The Volkshilfe also expressed dissatisfaction with the announcement. They argued that the measure is not only problematic under EU law but also complicates integration efforts. Moreover, it particularly affects women.
