Welcoming the Unwelcome: The Politics of Minimum Reception Standards for Asylum Seekers in Austria

Despite considerable efforts to harmonize reception conditions for asylum seekers in the European Union, the adoption of Directive 2003/9/EC reflects domestic interests, producing substantially different standards at the national level. By drawing upon the Austrian case, this article examines the po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of refugee studies 2012-12, Vol.25 (4), p.537-554
Main Authors: Rosenberger, Sieglinde, König, Alexandra
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asylum
Austria
Discretion
Europe
European Union
Executives
Experts
Federal Government
Federalism
Freedom
Harmonization
Implementation
Policy Implementation
Politics
Refugees
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Summary:Despite considerable efforts to harmonize reception conditions for asylum seekers in the European Union, the adoption of Directive 2003/9/EC reflects domestic interests, producing substantially different standards at the national level. By drawing upon the Austrian case, this article examines the politics and policies of reception that have emerged in the context of the adoption, transposition and implementation of the Directive. Based on analysis of policy documents, house rules and expert interviews, it will be demonstrated to what extent and why outcomes differ widely even at the sub-state level. The prevailing variations are ascribed to, first, wide margins of administrative discretion and, second, conflicting interests between regional and federal governments, regarding financial and executive competences but also over the mere presence of asylum seekers. Thus, the concept of ‘minimum standards’ translates into minimum welfare and restricted enjoyment of personal freedom but not into measures supportive of a dignified life for asylum seekers.
ISSN:0951-6328
1471-6925
DOI:10.1093/jrs/fer051