EU adopts stricter deportation rules; Austria offers €3,000 to Syrian returnees

The European Parliament voted 418‑218‑30 to adopt new EU deportation regulations that create “Return Centres” in third‑country locations outside the bloc. The rules aim to increase the number of actual deportations and set strict cooperation requirements for rejected asylum seekers, while excluding unaccompanied minors.

In Austria, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced a package of measures to accelerate removals. Austria deported about 7,000 people in the first half of 2026 and will now offer €3,000 to Syrian asylum seekers who voluntarily return, raising the incentive for those with granted asylum from €1,000 to €1,500. The plan also links criminal sanctions with deportations and proposes faster processing at Vienna‑Schwechat airport.