Latest news with #ClaudiaPlakolm
The National
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
EU faces ultimatum on Muslim Brotherhood funding
France and Austria are to team up against European funding for Islamist extremist groups. Benjamin Haddad, the French Junior Minister for Europe, met Claudia Plakolm, Austria's Minister for Europe, on Monday to forge a common position. Ms Plakolm used a post on X to call for concrete action against hatred and agitation at European level in the fight against extremism. Mr Haddad told the newspaper Le Figaro that the governments would expose organisations "close to radical Islam" that have benefitted from European funding. The document will be presented for adoption across the EU at a meeting next week. It calls for safeguards against European agencies providing funding for groups and people "hostile to European values". Another funding stream in the crosshairs in the briefing was €9.8 million ($11 million) in grants from the European Research Council for an initiative launched in 2019 to create a "European Quran". Also included in the dossier is funding of €18.8m for projects run by Islamic Relief Worldwide. The Austrian minister was also expected to meet the French Interior Minister and new head of the centre-right Les Republicains party Bruno Retailleau. Mr Retailleau told a meeting in London this year an official report had been complied into the 'words of hatred' promoted by Muslim Brotherhood figures such as its late leader, Yusuf Al Qaradawi. 'I will never, ever, confuse Islamic faith with this Islamist hatred that disfigures it,' Mr Retailleau told an audience at the Policy Exchange think tank. 'We stand by this distinction. 'It's classified today and I'll declassify it soon. This is part of the first actions we must do [that will] inform the public, as well as the administration and politicians. We have to have this debate because the Muslim Brotherhood progresses under cover.' Mr Retailleau said the report had raised questions for the ministry on how it would shape the legal framework to intervene and deal with the challenge to France's 'national cohesion'. Mr Haddad's presentation with Ms Plakolm seeks a "filtering procedure" governed by "guidelines" that equips the funders to tackle "abstract concepts, such as 'hostility to European values". The partners want scrutiny of both the applicant entities as well as individuals associated with the operations. This lack of scrutiny has been identified as a weakness by the European Court of Auditors.
Shafaq News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Austria first EU nation to freeze refugee reunification
Shafaq News/ Austria will suspend refugee family reunification starting in May, the government announced on Wednesday, becoming the first European Union member to implement the measure. Austria's newly formed conservative-led government has come under growing anti-immigration pressure and stressed the need to halt all new applications. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm said the government would amend legislation to authorize the Interior Ministry to issue a decree suspending all new applications. 'By May, so in just a few weeks, the stop is expected to become reality,' she told reporters. 'On one hand, our systems have reached their limits and, on the other hand, the probability of successful integration decreases massively with each new arrival.' The suspension, initially set for six months, could be extended through May 2027. Plakolm described the integration of new arrivals as a 'mammoth task,' noting that many struggle with learning German and finding jobs. Austria had already blocked Syrian family reunification since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, citing the need to "reassess conditions" and threatening deportations, as Syrians account for the majority of family reunification cases. Several EU states are weighing similar restrictions, but none have yet enforced such policies. Government data shows that roughly 9,300 people entered Austria through family reunification in 2024, compared to about 7,800 in 2023. Most were minors, which officials said placed a burden on schools. Rights groups condemned the move, with one major refugee support organization vowing to challenge the decree in court. Syria Returns Discussed in Jordan Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with his German and Austrian counterparts in Amman to discuss conditions for the return of Syrian refugees. A statement from Jordan's Foreign Ministry said Safadi met with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner to review 'developments in Syria.' The three emphasized the need to support Syrians in rebuilding their country through a Syrian-led political process that guarantees unity, sovereignty, and security, eliminates terrorism, and protects the rights of all Syrians. Safadi also underscored the importance of continued support for refugees, host countries, and aid organizations, while urging intensified efforts to create conditions conducive to voluntary return. Faeser said in a statement that Germany had provided "broad support to Jordan for hosting refugees" and would continue to do so. She added that Berlin was particularly exploring 'voluntary return options' to Syria. Austria and Germany both froze Syrian asylum cases following the fall of Assad's regime in early December 2024. Vienna aims to repatriate many Syrians, while Berlin has said it wishes to retain 'well-integrated' refugees but repatriate those with criminal records and encourage voluntary return. The visit came shortly after a proposal in February by US President Donald Trump to relocate Gaza's over two million residents to Arab countries—an initiative aimed at transforming the devastated strip into a 'Middle East Riviera' that was quickly dismissed by regional neighbors, especially Jordan.
Daily Tribune
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Austria to stop refugee family reunification in EU first: govt
Austria announced on Wednesday that it would pause family reunifications for those with asylum status from May, becoming the first in the European Union to do so. Several EU countries are mulling stopping or tightening the right for people, who cannot safely return to their home countries, to bring their families, but so far no bloc member has a complete halt in place. Austria has already halted family reunification for Syrians since the ouster of Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad last December, arguing it has to reassess the situation and threatening their deportation. Syrians make up the bulk of family reunifications, but a newly formed conservative-led government -- under pressure with anti-immigration sentiment high -- has insisted that it needs to stop all. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm said the government would make a legal change to allow the interior ministry to issue a decree to halt family reunification. "By May, so in just a few weeks, the stop is expected to become reality," Plakolm of the conservative People's Party (OeVP) told reporters. "On one hand, our systems have reached their limits and, on the other hand, the probability of successful integration decreases massively with each new arrival," she added. The pause is for six months but can be extended until May 2027, she said, adding it was a "mammoth task" to integrate those who have arrived, many of whom struggle to learn German and find jobs. In 2023, almost 9,300 people arrived due to family reunification; last year it was almost 7,800 people, according to government figures. Most of them were school-aged minors, placing a burden on schools, the government said. Rights organisations have criticised the government's plans in the country of nine million, with one of the main asylum support groups saying they would challenge the decree once issued in court. "There must be an emergency (to allow the government to pause family reunification), which in Austria is not the case," Asylkoordination Oesterreich spokesman Lukas Gahleitner told AFP. The anti-immigration far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) topped parliamentary elections for the first time ever last November, gaining almost a third of the votes. It failed to form government, with the election runner-up long-ruling OeVP cobbling together a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the liberal NEOs.
Arab News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Austria to stop refugee family reunification in EU first: govt
VIENNA: Austria announced on Wednesday that it would pause family reunifications for those with asylum status from May, becoming the first in the European Union to do so. Several EU countries are mulling stopping or tightening the right for people, who cannot safely return to their home countries, to bring their families, but so far no bloc member has a complete halt in place. Austria has already halted family reunification for Syrians since the ouster of Syria's leader Bashar Assad last December, arguing it has to reassess the situation and threatening their deportation. Syrians make up the bulk of family reunifications, but a newly formed conservative-led government — under pressure with anti-immigration sentiment high — has insisted that it needs to stop all. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm said the government would make a legal change to allow the interior ministry to issue a decree to halt family reunification. 'By May, so in just a few weeks, the stop is expected to become reality,' Plakolm of the conservative People's Party (OeVP) told reporters. 'On one hand, our systems have reached their limits and, on the other hand, the probability of successful integration decreases massively with each new arrival,' she added. The pause is for six months but can be extended until May 2027, she said, adding it was a 'mammoth task' to integrate those who have arrived, many of whom struggle to learn German and find jobs. In 2023, almost 9,300 people arrived due to family reunification; last year it was almost 7,800 people, according to government figures. Most of them were school-aged minors, placing a burden on schools, the government said. Rights organizations have criticized the government's plans in the country of nine million, with one of the main asylum support groups saying they would challenge the decree once issued in court. 'There must be an emergency (to allow the government to pause family reunification), which in Austria is not the case,' Asylkoordination Oesterreich spokesman Lukas Gahleitner told AFP. The anti-immigration far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) topped parliamentary elections for the first time ever last November, gaining almost a third of the votes. It failed to form government, with the election runner-up long-ruling OeVP cobbling together a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the liberal NEOs.
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Austria to be first EU nation to stop refugee family reunification
Austria announced on Wednesday that it would pause family reunifications for those with asylum status from May, becoming the first in the European Union to do so. Advertisement Several EU countries are mulling stopping or tightening the right for people, who cannot safely return to their home countries, to bring their families, but so far no bloc member has a complete halt in place. Austria has already halted family reunification for Syrians since the ouster of Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad last December, arguing it has to reassess the situation and threatening their deportation. Syrians make up the bulk of family reunifications, but a newly formed conservative-led government – under pressure with anti-immigration sentiment high – has insisted that it needs to stop all. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm said the government would make a legal change to allow the interior ministry to issue a decree to halt family reunification. Advertisement 'By May, so in just a few weeks, the stop is expected to become reality,' Plakolm of the conservative People's Party (OeVP) told reporters. 'On one hand, our systems have reached their limits and, on the other hand, the probability of successful integration decreases massively with each new arrival,' she added.
