Last week, Austria became the first country to deport a criminal to Syria

On 7 July 2025, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met with his Jordanian counterpart Mazin Abdellah Hilal Al Farrayeh in Vienna for a bilateral working meeting. The talks focused on the current situation in Syria and the conditions for Syrian refugees to return to their home country.

“Last week, Austria became the first country to carry out a repatriation to Syria, thereby sending a clear international signal: repatriations to safe areas must be possible if the situation on the ground has changed accordingly,” emphasised Interior Minister Gerhard Karner during a joint press conference. “Jordan is an important partner when it comes to issues of security and stability in the region and has been bearing an enormous burden for years by taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees,” Karner added. “Close cooperation with Jordan is crucial for developing viable solutions at the international level.”

The interior ministers emphasised the need for internationally coordinated measures to create stable and secure prospects for the return of Syrians.