Germany to declare Georgia, Moldova safe countries to easily reject asylum bids

The German government will make it easier to reject asylum applications from Georgia and Moldova by classifying them as safe countries of origin in legislation that was passed by the cabinet at a two-day retreat at Meseberg Castle and will now go through parliament, the Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Asylum applicants from safe countries face an accelerated review of their claims. While the application process does not differ from other applicants, they are given less time to appeal if rejected, which would also not halt their deportation.

“Both countries want to join the European Union. In both countries, people are not normally facing political persecution (…). So we can effectively reduce migration in this case,” Nancy Faeser, the German interior minister, said.

The move comes during increased pressure from irregular migration in Germany. Asylum applications in 2023 reached three-quarters of last year’s level in July. Illegal crossings into the country were up by a third compared to the same period last year, according to the federal police.

Georgians and Moldovans were only involved in 4.5% of applications in 2023. However, fewer than 1% of those applications were accepted, meaning that many rejected applicants would be deported faster.

To further accelerate this process, Faeser hopes that Germany will “strike migration deals with Georgia and Moldova soon.”

The two new additions join the member states of the European Union, Ghana, Senegal, and the Western Balkans countries as safe countries.

Pro Asyl, a civil rights organisation, slammed the decision, arguing that the two countries were far from safe for everyone.

“In Georgia, the LGBTIQ+ community is under pressure, and they aren’t protected from violent attacks by the state. The situation for journalists is also concerning. In Moldova, Romani are being excluded and discriminated against,” the group said in a statement.

(Nick Alipour | EURACTIV.de)