Luxembourg suspends Syrians’ asylum applications

Luxembourg will stop processing asylum applications from Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime in the country, the home affairs ministry announced on Tuesday.

“This suspension is a temporary measure to allow for a thorough analysis of the new geopolitical situation in Syria, in consultation with other member states,” the ministry said in a statement.  

“The suspension will enable dialogue among European counterparts to ensure a coordinated approach. In this context, it will be essential to monitor how the situation evolves in terms of human rights,” it continued.

Though processing is suspended for the foreseeable future, the ministry said that “applicants will continue to be accommodated in reception centres” and that “there will be no deterioration in their material or administrative conditions.”

The suspension will not stop Syrian nationals from applying for international protection or affect those having their cases examined under the Dublin procedure, which aims to prevent applications in multiple EU member states by determining which country is responsible for processing an application.

The Luxembourg Times reached out to the ministry for further details but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Patience needed

Luxembourg is the latest country to join a string of EU member states who have suspended their processing of asylum application from Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime.

On Monday, Austria announced it was preparing a repatriation and deportation programme. The UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Finland, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium have also paused their processes.

Last year, applications for international protection submitted in Luxembourg primarily came from Syria: 710 people from the country submitted such a request, including 339 minors. Since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, 3,766 applications from Syrian nationals have been approved in Luxembourg.

While some political parties in Europe – like the centre-right CDU and far-right AfD in Germany – have called for Syrians to be sent back to their country, the UN’s refugee agency UNCHR in a statement on Monday warned against hasty decisions.

“When we at UNHCR sit with refugees, it becomes clear that many want to wait and see,” Roland Schönbauer, a spokesperson for the UNHCR in Jordan told the Luxembourg Times.

“They are, of course, closely monitoring the situation. It is important to give them the opportunity and the time to form their own impression of the conditions on the ground. What does it mean for their safety? What does it mean for their living conditions? Only then can they make an informed decision about the right time for a possible return,” he said.

“Returning to their homeland is a human right, and we at UNHCR are ready to work with all stakeholders to address obstacles to a voluntary return in safety and with dignity,” Schönbauer continued, adding it was “crucial” to listen to the concerns and hopes of refugees.

Whether refugees can return to Syria and remain safe is unknown while a new government takes power.

“Let us not forget – also – that the needs within Syria remain immense. With shattered infrastructure and over 90 per cent of the population relying on humanitarian aid, urgent assistance is required as winter approaches – including shelter, food, water, and warmth,” the UNHCR said in a statement on Monday.