Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced the closure of asylum facilities in Finkenstein, Graz-Andritz, and Bad Kreuzen. The Ledenitzen site in Carinthia will temporarily close on October 1, leaving five federal asylum centers active nationwide.
The Federal Care Agency, led by Andreas Achrainer, will reduce its workforce to 650 full-time equivalents by 2027. While Karner targets 2027 for external deportation centers in Africa, he has not confirmed a fixed location due to confidentiality agreements.
Decreasing asylum seeker numbers will save 250 million euros, which the Ministry of the Interior plans to reinvest into security. Funds are earmarked for modern protective vests, helicopters, counter-terrorism measures, and enhanced cybersecurity systems.