More and more migrants are seeking asylum in Germany – and not only there. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in the period between July and October 2023, the number of migrants who arrived in Italy via Tunisia exceeded 56,000. Many of them are trying to continue their journey to central and northern Europe. In Germany, approximately 250,000 people have already applied for asylum by the end of September. The majority of them come from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey.
Recently, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking to DER SPIEGEL magazine, announced mass deportations with fast-track procedures for those who do not have the right to stay in the country. It is a political gamble that can determine the future of the “co-governance” in Berlin. Scholz’s initiative “carries political risk, especially for Scholz himself,” commented DER SPIEGEL in its latest issue.
African countries are key
The problem is that “mass deportations” do not depend only on the political will of the government or the effectiveness of the state machinery. Often, the countries of origin themselves refuse to accept their own citizens back. Berlin is now seeking bilateral agreements with African countries, providing incentives for the return of migrants. Are these just monetary incentives?
A response from the General Secretary of the governing Free Democrats (FDP), Bijan Djir-Sarai, on the first program of the German television (ARD): “Money is not the only issue,” says the German politician. “Money always plays a role, but the issue is to conclude agreements on migration that will be a win-win situation for everyone. That will be beneficial for the countries that want to send their migrants back, but also for the countries of origin, for example by providing channels for legal migration. Whether for studies or work.”
Agreements with Georgia and Moldova as examples
In this logic, Germany is seeking bilateral agreements with Tunisia and Morocco. But based on a bilateral agreement, the Tunisian government, for example, will commit to accepting only Tunisian citizens who have sought asylum in Europe and not (many more) citizens of third countries who arrive in Europe via Tunisia. Is this enough to reduce the number of asylum seekers?
“We need many different agreements,” says Bijan Djir-Sarai, “but already the agreements we are seeking in this regard are an important step. For example, the fact that Georgia and Moldova are now considered ‘safe countries of origin’ has reduced irregular migration to Germany by 10%. The next step would be to designate Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia as ‘safe countries of origin’.”
The possibilities of a bilateral agreement are expected to be explored by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who is visiting Morocco today. At the same time, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on a tour in Nigeria and Ghana, with migration and energy cooperation dominating the agenda. According to ARD information, Nigeria is a special case, as it has so far refused to recognize German deportation documents for migrants.
Reduced benefits for migrants
At the same time, the governing party Free Democrats (FDP) proposes reducing benefits for asylum seekers in Germany. They even criticize the fact that while the number of beneficiaries in the state services for providing benefits is increasing, there is no corresponding increase in the influx into the labor market.
“We need to be realistic and discuss migration as they do in the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand,” emphasizes the General Secretary of the FDP. “They clearly state what kind of migration they want in the labor market but also clearly state that they do not want migration limited to the social welfare system.”
(ARD, dpa, Der Spiegel)
