FALCON POWERS – The Austrian People’s Party intends to make DNA testing a requirement for refugee families seeking to reunite, as part of a plan to limit “excessive” asylum seeker family reunification, while these steps face opposition from some Austrian political parties.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced plans to expand the use of DNA tests for refugees seeking to reunite with family members already residing in Austria. In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, Nehammer explained that this new approach aims to tighten controls around family reunification.
According to the Chancellor, the Austrian People’s Party’s plan, which Nehammer leads, aims to use DNA tests on migrants whenever there is any doubt about their paperwork upon entering the country, considering family reunification as “the next challenge facing his government,” and warning, “We will limit family reunification through strict controls.”
While the number of asylum applications was much lower in Austria this year compared to last year, with 6,922 asylum applications filed in the first three months, a 32% decrease from the same period last year, about half of these applications were filed by unaccompanied minors, increasing the likelihood of family reunification.
No need for partner approval
The People’s Party intends to enact the law next week, without needing the approval of their coalition partners, the Greens, who have themselves declared that they will not be part of this plan, and the party has stated that this plan contains “hatred” from some parties.
The People’s Party has also proposed other measures to limit the influx of refugees, such as allowing the family members of refugees to enter the country on the condition that they can support themselves, but the adoption of such proposals requires approval at the European Union level.
