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AUSTRIA
Illegal Entry
In May 2001, Austria and the Czech Republic agreed along the lines of the Schengen Treaty to
establish a joint contact office at the border to combat illegal migration between both countries.
Austria has signed similar agreements with Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and
Slovenia stating the parties’ agreement to join efforts in fighting organized crime, regulating
border traffic and coordinating asylum issues.
Social Welfare Benefits
In 2002, the Austrian Government denied federal care to persons subject to “absolute” exclusion.
To this group belonged nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Serbia and Montenegro,
Macedonia, Nigeria and Turkey, whose claim was rejected in the first instance.
The second group of nationals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia,
Montenegro and Serbia, Albania, Armenia, Georgia, and Russia was only entitled to benefits if
they were minors and therefore in need of special protection. Serbs from Kosovo, Chechens
from Russia and Kurds from Turkey were exempted from this practice. The underlying aim was
to confine federal support to those asylum seekers unable to support themselves, but with a
realistic prospect of being granted asylum.
In regard to this practice, it should be noted that detained rejectees who cannot be removed have
to be released after the legally permitted maximum period of six months detention. No residence
permits are granted in these cases, which means that failed asylum seekers depend on the discretion
of the relevant district. Not all districts provide for failed asylum seekers and rejectees, who
thus depend on the assistance of private organizations.
This practice has recently been challenged by a decision of the High Court, which ruled that
asylum seekers who cannot maintain themselves are to be supported accordingly by the Federal
State. The new amendment to the Asylum Act, expected to come into force on 1 May 2004,
opposes this Court decision.
No information available.
1.4 STATISTICS ON INVOLUNTARY RETURN
TABLE 1
STATISTICS ON INVOLUNTARY RETURN
Year Number of Deportations
2000 8,935
2001 8,324
2002 6,842
2003 (up to October) 5,622
1.5 BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED