Germany: Moldovan & Georgian Asylum Applicants Will Now Be Subject to Stricter Rules

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Germany has decided to classify Moldova and Georgia as safe countries of origin.
• Asylum applicants will now receive a faster decision.
• Moldovan and Georgian asylum applicants who receive a negative asylum response will have to end their stay in Germany more quickly.

Nationals of Moldova and Georgia applying for asylum in Germany will now be subject to stricter rules as the federal government has decided to add both countries to the list of “safe countries of origin”.

According to the German authorities, nationals of these two countries that want to become members of the European Union are not at risk of political persecution.

For this reason, asylum procedures for Moldovans and Georgians will be accelerated, and all those who receive a negative asylum decision will be required to leave the territory of Germany immediately.

This measure aims to make Germany less appealing as a destination for asylum applications that are not genuinely asylum-related, thereby relieving the burden on the government and creating more capacity for those asylum seekers who are in need of protection.

Moreover, the move to classify Moldova and Georgia as safe countries of origin is part of Germany’s efforts to halt irregular migration.

Data provided by the German authorities show that the recognition rate for asylum applications filed by nationals of the two countries is at around 0.3 per cent. Moreover, it was highlighted that more than one in ten rejected asylum applications is from these two countries.

Therefore, Germany wants to classify Georgia and Moldova as safe countries of origin and instead focus on providing protection to people fleeing persecution and war.

Commenting on the matter, the Minister of Interior of Germany, Nancy Faeser, said that they want to conclude migration agreements with Georgian and Moldova soon. The same stressed that by designating them as safe countries, the German authorities will be able to effectively reduce irregular migration.

Both countries want to become members of the European Union. In both countries, people are generally not at risk of political persecution. More than one in ten rejected asylum applications comes from these two countries. Here, we can effectively reduce irregular migration very quickly. At the same time, we want to conclude migration agreements with Georgia and Moldova soon.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser

While Germany has decided to tighten asylum conditions for Moldovans and Georgians, the country is planning to create prospects for seasonal workers.

Germany wants to expand the opportunities for nationals of the two countries to take up employment.

Moreover, Germany also wants to strengthen its cooperation with Moldova and Georgia in the area of training specialists in educational exchange and strengthen the overall border cooperation.