Croatia has temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrian citizens, Interior Minister Davor Božinović announced, aligning with similar moves by other European countries.
“The Ministry of the Interior has instructed its services to pause processing until the European Union reaches a decision,” said Božinović on Monday.
This decision comes as political shifts in Syria and rising right-wing influence across Europe prompt countries to reassess asylum policies. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and others have also suspended Syrian asylum applications.
Germany, which took in nearly one million Syrians during the 2015 refugee crisis, has paused decisions while monitoring developments. Norway, Denmark, and Austria have adopted similar measures, with some reviewing previously approved cases or extending stays for rejected applicants due to uncertainty.
Greece has frozen around 9,000 Syrian asylum applications, while Switzerland, the UK, and Italy have announced comparable policies. France is expected to follow soon.
These moves highlight shifting European attitudes as nations balance evolving Syrian dynamics and domestic political pressures.