Suspension of Syrian asylum applications in Europe: a response to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime

European countries are reassessing their asylum policies in light of recent changes in Syria

On December 9, 2024, the French Ministry of the Interior announced that it was considering suspending ongoing asylum cases for Syrian applicants. This measure comes after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the resulting political shifts, prompting European governments to reevaluate their strategies.

European reactions: suspension of procedures and new directions

Germany, home to the largest Syrian community in the EU, decided to suspend decisions related to asylum procedures, citing “current uncertainty,” according to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. Austria also announced the cessation of all Syrian asylum applications and began preparing a repatriation program. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior specified that these measures affected about 7,000 people and that family reunification was suspended.

Similar policies in Nordic countries

Sweden, Denmark, and Norway followed suit by suspending the review of Syrian asylum applications. Carl Bexelius, head of legal affairs at the Swedish Migration Agency, explained that it was no longer possible to assess protection claims in the current context. Sweden’s decision will be formalized on Tuesday, while Denmark has postponed the deadlines for departures for individuals eligible for expulsion to Syria. This move follows Denmark’s pioneering 2020 decision to review hundreds of Syrian refugee cases, arguing that the situation in Damascus no longer justified a residence permit. However, no forced returns to Syria have taken place so far.