Europe Suspends Refugee Screening One After Another Amid End of Syrian Civil War

As the Syrian civil war ends with the victory of the rebel forces, European countries are suspending the asylum procedures for refugees from Syria.

On the 9th (local time), according to major foreign media, the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees announced that it would suspend asylum reviews, citing the unpredictability of how the situation in Syria will unfold. Currently, there are 47,270 pending asylum applications from Syrians.

Syrians are cheering for the victory of the Syrian rebel forces at Stockholm City Station Square in Sweden. Photo by Yonhap News.

Nancy Faeser, Germany's Minister of the Interior, stated that asylum applications will not be processed until a clear assessment of Syria's political situation is made.

The United Kingdom has also temporarily halted decisions on asylum applications from Syrian refugees. The UK Home Office said in a statement, "We have temporarily suspended the processing of Syrian asylum applications while assessing the current situation," adding, "We will continue to review all national guidelines related to asylum applications to respond to new issues."

Italy, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Greece have also decided to suspend asylum procedures for Syrian refugees. France announced plans to make a similar decision soon. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior stated, "Chancellor Karl Nehammer has ordered the suspension of all Syrian asylum applications and instructed a review of cases where asylum has been granted."

Among approximately 970,000 Syrian nationals residing in Germany, 780,000 have either obtained asylum status or have applied for it. In Europe, after Germany, many Syrian refugees reside in Austria (110,000), Sweden (90,000), and the Netherlands (80,000).

Since a significant number of Syrian refugees are Sunni Muslims who fled persecution by the Shia Bashar al-Assad regime, there are expectations that they will return home following the victory of the Sunni rebel forces. Right-wing parties across Europe are advocating for the swift repatriation of Syrian refugees.

Jens Spahn, deputy parliamentary leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), proposed chartering flights to Syria and providing 1,000 euros (approximately 1.51 million KRW) per person as settlement costs. Gerhard Karner, Austria's Minister of the Interior, stated, "I have instructed preparations for an orderly repatriation and deportation program to Syria."

However, concerns have also been raised. David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, said, "Now that al-Assad is gone, many returning to Syria is a positive sign that they hold hope for a better future," but added, "Much can change depending on what happens next. This flow towards Syria could quickly reverse, and the number of people using dangerous illegal migration routes to Europe and the UK could increase."

The European Union (EU) welcomed the collapse of the al-Assad regime but stated that conditions for the immediate return of refugees are not yet in place. Kaya Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said, "The process of rebuilding Syria will be long and complex, and all parties must participate constructively."