Georgia and Moldova Added to German Government's List of Safe Countries
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, August 31, 2023
The German government has designated Georgia and Moldova as safe countries, a provision outlined in the bill presented by Germany's Minister of Internal Affairs, Nancy Faeser. The bill has received approval from the Cabinet of Ministers.
Being included in the list of safe countries signifies that the asylum requests submitted by nationals of these countries will undergo expedited processing. Additionally, if such applications are declined, the deportation procedure will be fast-tracked.
According to statistics from the German Ministry of Internal Affairs, during the entirety of 2022 and the first half of 2023, 99.9% of asylum applications from Georgian and Moldovan citizens faced rejection. In the previous year, a total of 8,865 individuals from Georgia and 5,218 individuals from Moldova sought asylum in Germany.
"The European Union is the common aspiration for both countries. Political persecution is not a prevalent issue in either nation. Additionally, approximately one out of every ten asylum seekers in Germany comes from one of these countries. Designating them as safe countries will facilitate a swift and efficient reduction in illegal migration," the minister stated during an interview with German media.
According to Faeser, Germany intends to establish a migration agreement with Moldova and Georgia. As explained by the minister, both Moldova and Georgia will commit to repatriating citizens who lack the legal right to remain in Germany.
"This approach not only provides opportunities for individuals seeking education and work in Germany but also allows us to attract the qualified workforce we require," remarked Nancy Faeser.
