Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reported a significant decrease in asylum applications. He highlighted that 2,000 Syrians have voluntarily left Austria since the fall of the Assad regime. Karner is now prioritizing initiatives to encourage further returns, specifically mentioning “return premiums” for Syrian citizens. Simultaneously, he addressed unrelated issues, urging increased recruitment for the Vienna Police Academy due to vacant positions. This dual focus signals a shift in Austrian policy regarding asylum and immigration. The minister praised the police profession as “wonderful” in an effort to bolster recruitment numbers. These developments reflect the current government’s approach to managing migration and security within the country.