Annual Policy Report 2004

The Annual Policy Report 2004 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. Main legislative developments took place in the areas of asylum and integration. An amendment to the Asylum Act modified material prerequisites for granting asylum, the asylum procedure and institutional competences. Furthermore, the regulation of assistance to asylum-seekers underwent a change through the conclusion of the Basic Welfare Support Agreement. Both legislative changes entered into force on 1 May 2004. In the area of integration a so-called Integration Agreement was introduced which requires the proof of basic knowledge of German. All of these legislative developments were covered extensively by the Austrian media.