COUNTRY FACTSHEET: GERMANY 2014

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1 COUNTRY FACTSHEET: GERMANY 2014 EUROPEAN MIGRATION NETWORK 1. Introduction This EMN Country Factsheet provides a factual overview of the main policy developments in migration and international protection in Germany during 2014, including latest statistics. 2. Common European Asylum System During 2014 preparatory work for the full transposition of the re-cast Directives on Reception Conditions (2013/33/EU) and Asylum Procedures (2013/32/EU) was undertaken. The transposition of the Directives was expected by July A law on the improvement of the status of asylum seekers and tolerated foreign nationals" was also adopted in The law introduced amendments to the Asylum Procedure Act and the Residence Act to abolish the so called residence requirement in relation to territorial restrictions for asylum seekers and tolerated persons. Its objective was also to ensure social costs will continue to be fairly distributed between the federal states and that a place of residence condition will be introduced for asylum seekers and tolerated persons without an assured means of subsistence. The law also provides amendments to the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act, which will provide both benefits in cash and in kind, in order to facilitate opportunities for selfdetermination on the part of the beneficiaries. On 6 th November 2014, as result of the enforcement of Law on the designation of additional states as safe countries of origin and improvements in access to the labour market for asylum seekers and tolerated foreigners" Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia were designated as safe countries of origin. The aim is to accelerate the asylum procedure of nationals of these countries. Simplified and streamlined procedures for Syrian applicants for asylum and for Christians and Yazidis from Iraq were also introduced in 2014 to improve the swiftness of the asylum procedure of nationals of these countries. Regarding resettlement activities, Germany provided 321 resettlement places in 2014; however 21 of these were included in the 2015 quota. The majority of these places were given to refugees who had found temporary shelter in Syria (207) and Indonesia (114) but who were no longer able to stay there. It was further announced that as of 2015, Germany will be receiving up to 500 people as part of its resettlement programme. At the same time, in 2014 Germany continued to implement its humanitarian reception programme for people from Syria seeking protection (including stateless persons from Syria) and created 20,000 resettlement places through the federal government, from these, 6,000 places will be or have been filled through the UNHCR. By the end of 2014 a total of 12,000 people were already received. The Federal Länder also created humanitarian admission programmes for persons from Syria. As a result, the federal state programmes have so far provided protection in Germany for over 11,000 persons with relatives in Germany. 3. Unaccompanied Minors and other Vulnerable Groups The number of unaccompanied minors (UAMs) applying for asylum increased by 77% in 2014, when compared to the previous year (see figure 10 in Statistical Annex). As a result of such increase a proposal was submitted by the Federal State of Bavaria to the German Bundesrat in September 2014 to allocate UAMs across the Federal States in the percentages under the Königstein key (Bundesrat 2014a), however different associations and non-profit organisations did not support such proposal, as they argued that the best interest of the child might be compromised by such measure. Migration & Home Affairs

2 4. European Policy on Legal migration and Integration 4.1 PROMOTING LEGAL MIGRATION CHANNELS Germany continued to promote legal migration through its portal provides information on the legal conditions for migration as well as general information on Germany. 4.2 ECONOMIC MIGRATION No further policy developments were reported during However, it should be noted that following the amendments introduced to the Asylum Procedure Act (Asylverfahrensgesetz) and the Employment Regulation (Beschäftigungsverordnung), it is now easier for asylum seekers and tolerated persons to access the German labour market. For example, the waiting period for an asylum seeker, before taking up a job, has been reduced to three months (previously set to 9-12 months). Moreover, the priority assessment - which checks whether priority national workers or EU citizens are available for the job before asylum seekers or tolerated persons- is no longer applicable for certain categories of asylum seekers and tolerated persons that fulfil certain requirements, these include the following: For the issue of a Blue Card to university graduates in bottleneck occupations; For a permit in vocational training occupations on the basis of the "Whitelist" of the Federal Employment Agency; and For participation in a scheme for the recognition of their academic or vocational qualification. Finally, the priority assessment no longer applies if an asylum seeker or tolerated person has being residing in Germany for an uninterrupted period of fifteen months with permission, toleration or with temporary authorisation to stay. While, the assessment of the comparability of the conditions of employment remains unaffected, the discontinuation of the priority assessment is initially restricted to three years. 4.3 FAMILY REUNIFICATION In 2014, the Federal Ministry of the Interior prepared and introduced a proposal to the Parliament to amend the German Residence Act ( Gesetz zur Neubestimmung des Bleiberechts und der Aufenthaltsbeendigung ). The proposal provides new regulations to simplify family reunification with relation to: 1) sponsors with a residence title on the grounds of international subsidiary protection; and 2) sponsors with a residence title on the grounds of resettlement. Overall, the proposal requests the provisions of the Family Reunification Directive (2011/95/EU) to be also applied to international subsidiary protected persons. 4.4 INTEGRATION During 2014, Germany continued to implement and develop different integration programmes and projects, amongst others these included: The programme called "Getting to work - jobs for mothers with migration backgrounds" ("Stark im Beruf Mütter mit Migrationshintergrund steigen ein"). The programme aims to facilitate the integration of mothers with migration backgrounds in the job market. The programme will be composed of a series of 80 projects that will be implemented between 2015 and It is also intended that refugees and asylum seekers with entitlement to secondary job market access are also to be given support in gaining access to the job market. In September 2014, the nationwide Umbrella Organisation of Migrant Organisations (Dachorganisation der Migrantinnenorganisationen [DaMigra]) was established to raise the profile of migration and women-specific issues at federal policy level, both in the media and among the general public, and improving networks between migrant organisations and helping them to become more professional. The "MIGoVITA" project ("Young people with an immigrant background: diversity and participation in the transition from school to the labour market") was implemented between 2012 and 2014 to test out the conditions under which migrant organisations representing a diversity of population groups can become qualified together in the tasks involved in the transition from school to the labour market, in order to provide young migrants with more effective assistance and improve their opportunities for participation. As a result of the project, successful ideas will be developed further in 2015 onwards in a new joint project with the Federal Agency for Civic Education called "Junge Roma aktiv" ("Young Roma Active"). 4.5 MANAGING MIGRATION AND MOBILITY 1 Since 2012 the Federal Police has been using the EasyPASS automated border control system. As of the first quarter of 2014, 75 EasyPASS control lanes were established at the airports in Munich, Frankfurt/Main, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. More than two million travellers have used the automated border controls in Germany since then. The establishment of further 140 border control lanes were foreseen by the end of June 2015 at the Munich, Frankfurt/Main, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin-Tegel and Cologne/Bonn airports. 1 Managing migration and mobility refers to the following themes: visa policy, Schengen governance and border monitoring. 2

3 Also, as of October 2014 the federal police force has been linked to the EUROSUR system and a The National Coordination Centre (NCC) was established in the Command and Control Centre of the Federal Police Headquarters. 4.6 EXTERNAL DIMENSION OF EU MIGRATION POLICY Germany continued to implement the Sector Project Migration and Development (SP) during 2014 while entering in its fourth phase since The main aim of the project is to develop concepts and tools to enhance the positive effects of migration for development, and to explore the nexus between different development sectors to mainstream migration in development cooperation. The SP's main thematic areas are: remittances, private sector development through migration, cooperation with and support of diasporas, development-oriented labour mobility and migration policy advice. Regarding brain drain measures, Germany s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development plans to introduce a new phase of the programme Migration for Development with a stronger focus on knowledge-transfer. throughout the international "Brussels Group for Returns & Reintegration to Iraq" to develop a coordinated multilateral approach and strategy towards Iraqi authorities and to establish a mutually acceptable and sustainable return process to Iraq. 6. Actions against Trafficking in Human Beings No policy developments were reported on this area in STATISTICAL ANNEX The Statistical Annex provides an overview of the latest available statistics for Germany on aspects of migration and asylum ( ), including residence, asylum, unaccompanied minors, irregular migration, return and visas. Where statistics are not yet available, this is indicated in the Annex as N/I and when statistics are not applicable, this is indicated as N/A. Finally, concerning remittances, in 2014 Germany restructured and re-launched the website ( which provides an enhanced remittance price comparison between different money transfer institutions. 5. Irregular Migration and Return 5.1 THE FIGHT AGAINST FACILITATION OF IRREGULAR MIGRATION As a result of the growing migration pressure, 2014 also witnessed an increase in the number of identified cases of illegal entry and stay, as well as the number of cases of registered document fraud and associated forms of identity fraud. Between January and October 2014, a total of 3,285 cases of false and forged border crossing documents were identified. Furthermore, the use of databases in order to be able to provide documents tailored to the specific requirements of individuals wishing to be smuggled, is now commonly applied by smuggling groups. In 2014 Germany continued to carry out nationwide investigations into suspected cases of smuggling of foreign nationals. These are undertaken by joint investigation teams involving the police of the Federal Länder or foreign police authorities either on a temporary or permanent basis. 5.2 RETURN In 2014 Germany intensified its cooperation with other EU Member States in the field of return, in particular with regard to the re-acceptance of criminal offenders. Also, cooperation continued to be developed 3

4 Statistical Annex: Immigration and Asylum in Germany ( ) 1. COMMON EUROPEAN ASYLUM SYSTEM Figure 1: Asylum applications as a share of the total population in Germany, EU average and EU high and low ( ) Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyappctza), data extracted 20/07/2015 Figure 2: Number of asylum applications and as a share of the total number of applications in the EU ( ) Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyappctza), data extracted 21/07/2015 Table 1: Asylum applications: Top five third-country nationalities ( ) Nationality Nr % of total Nationality Nr % of total Nationality Nr % of total Nationality Afghanistan 7,955 15% Serbia 12,810 16% Serbia 18,000 14% Syria 41,100 20% Serbia 6,990 13% Syria 7,930 10% Russia 15,475 12% Serbia 27,145 13% Iraq 6,210 12% Afghanistan 7,840 10% Syria 12,855 10% Eritrea 13,255 7% Iran 3,775 7% FYROM 6,890 9% FYROM 9,415 7% Afghanistan 9,675 5% Syria 3,435 6% Iraq 5,675 7% Afghanistan 8,240 6% Iraq 9,495 5% Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyappctza), data extracted 21/07/2015 Figure 3: Asylum applications: Top five third-country nationalities as a share of EU total per given nationality (2014) Nr % of total Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyappctza), data extracted 21/07/2015 Table 2: Asylum applications - First instance decisions by outcome ( ) Total decisions Positive decisions Refugee status Of which: Subsidiary protection Humanitarian reasons Negative decisions ,365 9,675 7, ,910 30, ,765 17,140 8,765 6,975 1,400 41, ,360 20,125 10,915 7,005 2,205 56, ,415 40,560 33,310 5,175 2,075 56,855 Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asydcfsta), data extracted 22/07/

5 Figures 4-7: Asylum applications - First instance decisions by outcome ( ) Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asydcfsta), data extracted 22/07/2015 Figure 8: Negative decision rate for the top five nationalities of applicants at the first instance in comparison with EU for the same given nationality (2014) Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asydcfsta), data extracted 23/07/2015 Figure 9: Third-country nationals resettled Source: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (EMN DE NCP) 2. UNACCOMPANIED MINORS Figure 10: Unaccompanied minors applying for asylum ( ) Table 3: Unaccompanied minors ( ) Unaccompanied minors (total) N/A N/A N/A N/A Unaccompanied minor asylum applicants 2,125 2,095 2,485 4,400 Source: Eurostat Asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors by citizenship, age and sex Annual data (rounded) [migr_asyunaa], data extracted 23/07/2015 5

6 3. EUROPEAN POLICY ON LEGAL MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION Figure 11: First residence permits, by reason ( ) Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst), data extracted 20/08/2015 Table 4: First residence permits: Top five third-country nationalities ( ) 1. Turkey 10, Turkey 14, Turkey -18, Syria -29, USA 9, China 9, China-13, Turkey - 18, China 8, USA 6, USA-11, China - 14, India 6, Russia 6, India-10, India - 11, Russia 6, India 5, Syria-10, USA - 11,722 Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_resfirst), data extracted 20/08/2015 Figure 12: Resident population of third-country nationals as a share of total population in Germany, EU average, EU high and low ( ) Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_pop1ctz), data extracted 23/07/2015:*2014 Data break in time series 4. IRREGULAR MIGRATION AND RETURN Table 5: Number of third-country nationals refused entry at external borders ( ) Third country nationals: Refused entry at external borders 3,365 3,820 3,845 3,605 Found to be illegally present 56,345 64,815 86, ,290 Ordered to leave 17,550 20,000 25,380 34,255 Returned following an order to leave 14,075 13,855 19,180 21,895 Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_eirfs)(migr_eipre)(migr_eiord)(migr_eirtn), data extracted 24/07/2015 6

7 Table 6: Third-country nationals returned ( ) Returned as part of forced return measures Returned voluntarily Returned through an Assisted Voluntary Return Programme ,185 N/I 6, ,098 N/I 7, ,645 N/I 10, * 12,844 N/I 13,574 Source: EMN Annual Policy Report on Immigration and Asylum 2014, Statistic Annex and EMN Study Dissemination of information on voluntary return 5. SECURING EUROPE S EXTERNAL BORDERS Table 7: Number of Schengen visas applications ( ) Uniform visas (short-stay visas) 1,707,197 1,844,704 2,062,979 2,061,137 Source: DG Migration and Home Complete statistics on short-stay visas issued by the Schengen States Figure 13: Uniform visa applications received in Germany as a share of the total number of uniform visa applications in all Schengen states consulates ( ) Source: DG Migration and Home affairs Complete statistics on short-stay visas issued by the Schengen States Table 8: Top five countries in which the highest number of visa applications for Germany was lodged Country Number Country Number Country Number Country Number Russia 383,631 Russia 406,924 Russia 474,399 Russia 427,880 China 217,220 China 247,278 China 290,023 China 316,197 Turkey 156,165 Turkey 167,263 Turkey 190,304 Turkey 196,941 Ukraine 105,121 Ukraine 106,294 Ukraine 112,209 India 109,730 India 99,924 India 97,138 India 102,862 Ukraine 101,867 Source: DG Migration and Home affairs 6. ACTIONS AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS Table 9: Number of traffickers arrested as suspects and traffickers convicted Convictions Arrested / otherwise involved in a criminal proceeding Source: German Federal Police Office N/I N/I N/I N/I N/I 2 These numbers include voluntary returns via the AVR programmes REAG/GARP only, voluntary returns via specific AVR(R) programmes by the single Federal Länder are not included. 7

8 7. ASYLUM AND MIGRATION EU FUNDING SOURCES ( AND ) Table 10: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) allocation to Germany in euro per area Areas AMIF Asylum 58,786,184 Legal Migration and Integration 92,098,355 Return 45,069,408 Technical Assistance 12,462,928 Special cases (resettlement/transfer) 13,000,000 TOTAL 221,416,877 Source: DG Migration and Home affairs Table 11: Internal Security Fund (ISF) allocation to Germany in euro per area Areas ISF ISF Borders 51,753,437 ISF SA Frontex - ISF SA Consular cooperation 3,195,000 ISF Borders Emergency Assistance - ISF Police 79,504,401 TOTAL 134,452,838 Source: DG Migration and Home affairs Table 12: SOLID funds allocation in euro and share of total funds allocated to Germany ( ) SOLID FUNDS TOTAL European Refugee Fund (ERF) N/A 6,868,880 (9.3%) 15,872,002 (16%) 7,951,006 (8.4%) 8,895,463 (9%) 10,971,910 (10.4%) 14,520,721 (12.8%) 65,079,984 (11.1%) European Return Fund (RF) N/A 4,184,171 (7.5%) 3,703,822 (6%) 3,664,850 3,859,045 (3.5%) 5,287,660 (3.5%) 7,609,749 (4.3%) 28,309,297 European Fund for the Integration of TCN (EIF) 10,389,329 (16%) 10,808,668 (13.9%) 907,281 (0.9%) 13,582,676 (12.3%) 14,535,130 (11.1%) 16,813,650 (10.3%) 17,258,742 (9.4%) 84,295,476 (10.2%) External Borders Fund (EBF) 10,309,750 (7.1%) 7,008,339 (5.2%) 7,153,019 8,017,995 (4.2%) 10,279,864 (4.3%) 14,384,407 18,946,616 76,099,991 (4.7%) Source: DG Migration and Home affairs 8