Germany will classify Georgia, Moldova as ‘safe countries,’

Author: Agencies

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet on Wednesday classified Moldova and Georgia as so-called “safe countries of origin” meaning asylum seekers from there can be rejected and deported faster than in the past.

The move, once parliament has approved the new regulation, is a further step in efforts to curb migration to Germany as the country struggles to house and integrate more than 1 million refugees who fled the war from Ukraine last year. Different from others fleeing to Germany, Ukrainians do not need to apply for asylum but get a right of residency immediately.

In addition to Ukrainian war refugees, more than 188,000 people applied for asylum in Germany this year. Among those, 6,612 applications came from Georgians and 1,910 came from Moldovans during the period from January to July. However, the approval rate for asylum pleas from Georgians and Moldovans stands currently only 0.15%, the German interior ministry said.

Despite the new regulations, Georgians and Moldovans will be able to continue to apply for asylum, but their chances of approval will be close to non-existent now. Also, the designation as a safe countries of origin shortens legal deadlines, especially for appeals to overturn negative decisions on asylum requests. An appeal has no suspensive effect, meaning people can be deporting during a pending trial. More than a tenth of rejected asylum applications comes from Georgia and Moldova, Faeser said. “So here we can effectively reduce irregular migration very quickly,” she added.

The minister said Germany is also in the process of concluding migration agreements with Georgia and Moldova. The government has been trying to finalize migration deals with individual countries to open doors for immigrants with skills that are much needed on Germany’s labor market, such as nurses or truck drivers.

The German government defines safe countries of origin as “countries from which it can be assumed, based on the democratic system and the general political situation, that no state persecution is to be feared there in general and that the respective state can protect against non-state persecution in principle.”

Opposition Christian Democrats criticized the new classification as “only a drop in the ocean.”

“In addition to extending border controls, it would also be urgently necessary to classify the Maghreb states of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia as safe countries of origin,” the parliamentary faction of the Christian Democrats said in a written statement, adding that the government had not done enough to curb migration.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • World

Turkiye’s Erdogan calls for Islamic alliance against Israel

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday Islamic countries should form an alliance against what…

5 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Gold extraction endangers rare reptiles

A rare snake species known as the blunt-nosed viper and other reptiles, especially the geico…

5 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Catering services in high demand as Milad (PBUH) celebrations intensify

As Pakistan prepares to celebrate the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on September…

5 hours ago
  • Pakistan

PCB official says domestic competitions not subservient to international assignments

PCB Director High-Performance, Tournament Director Champions One Day Cup Nadeem Khan has said that the…

5 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Experts suggests lifestyle changes to control diabetes

The Health experts addressing a symposium on Saturday stressed lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes which…

5 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Pakistan team to compete in 5th World Nomad Games 2024

Pakistan's combined contingent is all set to participate in the 5th World Nomad Games, scheduled…

5 hours ago