Asylum Transit Camp in Africa with Red-White-Red Participation?

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) noted on Tuesday on the sidelines of a press conference that they have been "demanding for several years" to establish return centers outside Europe or to conduct asylum procedures outside Europe.

However, this can "only be done step by step," said Karner. The prerequisite is that "we further develop the European regulations so that this is also possible." The Netherlands signed a declaration of intent with Uganda in early October, said Karner: "And I spoke with the Dutch Interior Minister in mid-October about developing this together." The "wish and goal" is less burden on Europe and procedures outside Europe. A first step for this is to change the legal framework. A second step is then to enter into talks with potential partners. But first, the "important" first step is needed, because currently, one can only deport directly, said Karner.

"Transit Hubs" in Uganda and Rwanda?

According to the Standard, the internal government document reveals that so-called "transit hubs" are to be established in Uganda or Rwanda. These are intended as an intermediate step if the repatriation of asylum seekers with negative asylum applications from Europe fails. In the document, Somalis are explicitly mentioned as the "most relevant target group," as countries like Somalia hardly take back their own citizens. The government program of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS also states that Austria is pursuing the implementation of comprehensive cooperation with third countries to prevent illegal migration to Europe and thus also to Austria. The SPÖ did not want to know anything about this on Tuesday and emphasized to the "ZIB" that this had not been discussed at the coalition level. Such projects could be ruled out due to costs and the strained budgetary situation, it was said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Uganda currently hosts more than 1.9 million refugees - from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Burundi. Many of them live in precarious conditions and have to live without access to essential supplies. Uganda has been a focus country of Austrian Development Cooperation since 1992. According to the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), ongoing projects currently receive around 18 million euros from Austrian taxpayers. President Yoweri Museveni (81) has been in power in Uganda since 1986. In January, he is seeking his tenth term.

Great Britain Stood Out

Regarding Rwanda, Great Britain has particularly stood out in Europe in trying to win the country for cooperation in migration policy. Previous conservative governments succeeded in reaching an agreement. They wanted to deport people who entered without valid papers to Rwanda on a large scale. However, at high costs, only four people were sent there within two years. When the Labour Party came to power last year, the practice was completely stopped.

(APA/Red)

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