European countries are paying Syrian migrants to leave, sparking debate over ethics and migration policy.
But the United States is being told by Democrats to just accept our fate and live with it?
At a Glance
- Austria offers €1,000 to Syrians for voluntary return
- Denmark proposes up to €27,000 per adult for repatriation
- Germany considers similar payments and chartered flights
- Critics argue payments misuse taxpayer money
- Ethical concerns raised over returning migrants to conflict zones
European Nations Implement Cash Incentives for Syrian Repatriation
Several European countries are adopting controversial measures to manage their Syrian migrant populations. Austria has taken the lead by offering a €1,000 cash payment to Syrians who voluntarily return to their homeland. This decision comes as Austrian authorities deem the original reasons for asylum claims resolved. Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated, “We are now helping everyone who wants to return voluntarily. There is up to 1,000 euros for this.”
Denmark has gone further, proposing a substantial sum of 200,000 kronor (€27,000) per adult and 50,000 kronor (€6,700) per child for voluntary repatriation. Since 2019, nearly 600 Syrians have returned from Denmark with financial support under the Repatriation Act. Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration, Kaare Dybvad Bek, expressed hope that “in view of the new developments, even more people will make use of the offer.”
🧵New Cash for migrants Deal
EU-Lebanon 1 billion euro deal, at its core, hurts the Syrian refugees who are being forcefully returned by 🇱🇧 authorities to an unsafe Syria.https://t.co/phbZ8YLZ4d
— ECRE (@ecre) May 3, 2024
Criticism and Ethical Concerns
These initiatives have not been without critics. The leader of Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), Herbert Kickl, denounced the payment as a misuse of taxpayer funds, stating, “It is a slap in the face of our own population, which is suffering from extreme inflation.”
Kickl advocates for a more aggressive approach focusing on remigration and deportations, rather than payments.
The Archbishop of Vienna has also voiced concerns, instead promoting a false idea of “compassion” and suggesting that returns should only occur when peace is fully restored in Syria.
Shifting Policies Across Europe
The landscape of Syrian asylum in Europe is rapidly changing. Germany, while not yet officially offering self-deportation payments, is considering €1,000 payments and chartering return flights. This comes in the wake of celebrations by thousands of Syrians in Germany following President Bashar al-Assad’s departure for Russia, which prompted swift political responses calling for the return of Syrian refugees.
Several European countries, including Germany, Britain, Greece, Italy, and Sweden, have suspended asylum proceedings for Syrians. Austria has announced preparations to deport Syrians whose asylum claims fail. These actions are largely attributed to the perceived change in the Assad regime, though uncertainty remains about Syria’s future stability and safety.
For countries like Denmark, the financial incentive for repatriation is seen as cost-effective, given that many Syrians there are not employed. This economic calculus is likely influencing other European nations as they grapple with the long-term implications of hosting large migrant populations.
The UK, meanwhile, is taking a more cautious approach, waiting to see developments in Syria before making concrete decisions. But with socialists in power, it’s hard to imagine them getting rid of anybody – legal or illegal.
