Austria: family reunification stop, civil society and church associations against the government’s plan

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A broad alliance of Church and civil society organisations has harshly criticised the restrictions imposed by the Austrian Government on family reunifications. The proposed emergency decree, aimed at undermining the right to family reunification, is questionable from a legal and humanitarian point of view and affects the most vulnerable, according to a statement issued today in the wake of the protest at Ballhausplatz in Vienna entitled “Families stay together”, which was also supported by Caritas and Catholic Action. “In 2024, 98% of the nearly 8,000 arrivals were women and children. Denying families the prospect of reunification does not solve problems, but only creates more”, said Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz from “Asylkoordination Osterreich”. Those seeking protection have virtually no other legal means to enter the country. The appeal has been supported, among others, by Amnesty International, Caritas, Diakonie, Volkshilfe, SOS Mitmensch, Catholic Action and many other civil society bodies and church organisations. According to media reports, the People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Liberals (NEOS) will not proceed with a complete ban on family reunifications, but will suspend them at least until the end of September 2026. The Council of Ministers reached the agreement yesterday. This week, the National Council is expected to pass the law which will probably enter into force in mid-May. The federal government cited a national emergency as one of the reasons for the tightening of restrictions.

Fonte: Agensir