The aim of the Annual Policy Reports is to outline the most significant political and legislative developments in the EU Member States and at European level as well as to inform about public debates in the area of migration and asylum within the EU Member States.

Serving as the basis of the Annual Policy Reports, the Annual Reports on Asylum and Migration Statistics present for the specific Member State an analysis of the statistical trends in asylum and migration during the reference year. The Annual Reports on Asylum and Migration Statistics were prepared by the European Migration Network (EMN) up to and including 2009.

With the help of an external service provider, the European Commission publishes an EU Synthesis Report summarizing the main findings from the National Reports prepared by the National Contact Points.

Annual Policy Report 2022

The Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2022 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria between January and December 2022. In 2022, the war in Ukraine was the defining issue, necessitating new regulations (for example, the Regulation on Displaced Persons) or the adaptation of existing systems (for example, in the area of integration). Furthermore, a comprehensive reform of the relevant legal foundations brought about changes and facilitations in labour migration, among other things, and measures were taken to address the shortage of skilled workers in Austria. In addition, the high number of applications for international protection and the reaching of capacity limits in basic care played an important role, especially in media reporting.

Annual Policy Report 2021

The Annual Policy Report 2021 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria between January and December 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in (temporary) measures being introduced in a number of areas including aliens law, social and educational support, labour market integration, border controls, and removals. Since 1 January, the newly established Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services company with limited liability has also been responsible for the service areas of legal advice, return counselling and return assistance, human rights monitoring, and interpreting and translation services. In addition, various legislative amendments relating to labour migration were implemented. Furthermore, the topic of migration also played a key role in the country’s media reporting, for example the child’s best interest in asylum procedures.

Annual Policy Report 2020

The Annual Policy Report 2020 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. A main development in 2020 was the inauguration of a new Federal Government, ushering in changes in migration and asylum policy, as outlined in the Government Programme 2020–2024. The recently established Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services took over responsibility as of 1 December 2020 for administrating material reception conditions to applicants of international protection under federal care. Overall, developments in 2020 were driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and related mobility restrictions. For example, to ensure a continued food supply as well as to cover the demand for nursing services, special arrangements were found for certain key workers in agriculture or in medical and care services to allow entry to Austria and to facilitate the renewal and issue of work permits.

Annual Policy Report 2019

The Annual Policy Report 2019 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. A main development in 2019 was the establishment of the Federal Agency for Care and Support Services for asylum seekers. The Agency is expected to work at full capacity as of 2021. Further, as of 2019, the list of shortage occupations was broken down by province, making it possible to issue a Red-White-Red card for skilled workers, based on the labour market needs in a specific region. To promote language acquisition, German courses provided to people holding a protection status were expanded to level B1. Remedial German classes for pupils were also introduced.

Annual Policy Report 2018

The Annual Policy Report 2018 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. The main legislative development was the entering into force of the Act Amending the Aliens Law 2018. The Act implemented the Students and Researchers Directive (2016/801) in national law and led to several amendments mainly in the area of asylum. Furthermore, the topic of migration played a key role in the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2018 and thus also in the country’s media reporting.

Annual Policy Report 2017

The Annual Policy Report 2017 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. The main legislative development was the entering into force of the 2017 Act Amending the Aliens Law, the Integration Act and the Integration Year Act . One of the significant political developments was election of a new Austrian National Council in October 2017 and the building of a new coalition. In 2017, the topic of migration dominated the election campaign for the National Council and thus also the country’s media.

Annual Policy Report 2016

The Annual Policy Report 2016 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. The main legislative development was the entering into force of the Amendment to the Asylum Act, the Aliens Police Act and the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum Procedures Act. One of the significant policy developments was the adoption of measures to implement the 50 Action Points for the integration of persons entitled to asylum or subsidiary protection. Both, the legislative amendment and the integration measures were among the topics most intensively covered in the Austrian media.

Annual Policy Report 2015

The Annual Policy Report 2015 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related developments and debates in Austria. The main legislative development was the entering into force of the Act Amending the Aliens Law 2015 on 20 July. Significant policy developments such as the introduction of temporary border controls or the adoption of an Integration Package for persons granted asylum and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection took place in the context of the migration movements along the Western Balkan route and the sharp increase in the number of asylum applications in Austria. Both, the Act Amending the Aliens Law 2015 and the refugee and migration movements were the topics most intensively covered in the Austrian media.

Annual Policy Report 2014

The Annual Policy Report 2014 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related debates and developments in Austria. In 2014, the establishment of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum and the Federal Administrative Court were important topics as they are part of a major institutional and administrative reform. There were also significant amendments to the Border Control Act and to the Citizenship Law aimed at tackling the issue of so-called foreign fighters. A policy development worth highlighting is the initiative "Integration at the regional level" which was launched to support integration at the local level and to strengthen the integration competence of local authorities. The lack of available reception facilities for asylum-seekers in the provinces and the overcrowding of the main initial reception centre in Traiskirchen were the issues most intensively covered in the Austrian media.

Annual Policy Report 2013

The Annual Policy Report 2013 provides an overview of migration and asylum-related debates and developments in Austria. In 2013, an important development was the movement of integration agendas from the Ministry of the Interior to the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs. The Amendments to the Citizenship Law that introduced inter alia a facilitated citizenship for very well integrated migrants represented one of the main legislative changes. Asylum-related topics such as reception conditions, the admission of Syrian refugees and the death of migrants off the Italian coast were the topics covered most comprehensively by the Austrian press.