Austria plans to deport Afghan migrants through Uzbekistan in new transit deal

According to a government statement, Austria’s ministers of the interior and foreign affairs are scheduled to sign the agreement on May 7 during an official visit to Uzbekistan. This initiative is part of a broader European Union policy aimed at tightening migration controls and establishing partnerships with non-EU states to manage the return of individuals who have been denied asylum.

Markus Haindl, a representative of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, emphasized the significance of the move, stating that the agreement is a crucial step for the transit of persons subject to deportation, particularly those being returned to Afghanistan. Austria, along with a group of other EU member states including Denmark, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands, has been actively coordinating efforts to establish "return centers" and other external mechanisms to streamline the deportation process.

The shift in Vienna’s approach follows a period of restricted deportations to Afghanistan and Syria. Since last year, Austria has resumed the deportation of Afghan citizens, marking a change in policy since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Furthermore, Vienna began repatriating Syrian nationals following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government in 2024.

The European Union is currently developing broader strategies to increase the scale of deportations for individuals without a legal right to remain in the bloc. These plans are moving forward despite concerns raised by human rights organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regarding the safety and legal implications of returning individuals to high-risk regions. The upcoming agreement in Tashkent is expected to formalize the logistical and administrative framework for these transits, cementing Uzbekistan's role as a key regional partner in EU migration management.