Germany: 8,000 Asylum Seekers Opt for Voluntary Return with Financial Support

Eight thousand asylum seekers, whose applications were either rejected or deemed unlikely to be accepted, benefited from the voluntary return funding program. This information was provided by the federal government in response to a request from a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the Bundestag. According to the government’s response, the total…

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Former Chancellor Merkel Criticizes Germany’s Border Policy on Refugee Rejection

Angela Merkel has criticized the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) immigration policy, particularly its stance on tightening border controls and rejecting asylum seekers at the border. In an interview with Der Spiegel, the former German Chancellor remarked, “I still think this is not right.” She emphasized that sending asylum seekers back to Germany’s borders will not…

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Germany: Startups Urge Removal of Barriers to Foreign Skilled Worker Immigration

The Startup Association has criticized ongoing barriers to employing foreign workers and is urging the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles that hinder the recruitment of skilled professionals from outside Germany. In collaboration with the recruitment company Stepstone, the association released the German Startup Monitor 2024 report. According to the report, only 17% of the 1,859 startups…

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Berlin Police Union Calls for Greater Police Presence in Refugee Shelters

The Berlin Police Union is calling for a greater police presence in refugee shelters to facilitate faster deportations. Stefan Weh, the state head of the GDP, emphasized that planned deportations necessitate current documentation, and it is essential for immigration authorities to receive this information promptly to ensure successful deportation processes. As a result, the Berlin…

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Soccer Team Wins German Integration and Tolerance Award for Supporting Refugee Children

Hertha Bonn has been awarded the German Football Association’s (DFB) Integration and Tolerance Award for its efforts in supporting refugee children and helping them integrate into German society. According to DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, 134 clubs applied for the award, but Hertha Bonn stood out due to the remarkable impact of its “Football Connects” project….

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Germany: Finance Minister Proposes Reducing Benefits for Ukrainian Refugees

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has announced plans to revise the legal status of Ukrainian refugees and implement significant changes to housing cost coverage, aiming to reduce government spending on benefits, including citizen benefits, provided to Ukrainian refugees. Lindner told Business Week that the goal is to “lower citizen benefit costs and help more beneficiaries…

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Refugee Assistant Highlights Harsh Conditions for Deportees Sent from Germany to Bulgaria

After Germany conducted several deportations to Bulgaria, refugee assistant Stefan Reichel described the poor conditions faced by refugees in asylum camps there as terrifying. In an interview with the German newspaper Taz, he also criticized the government’s strict policies toward refugees. The refugee assistant spent ten days in Bulgaria with a group of assistants and…

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