Asyl-seekers remain at high level in North-Eastern area

Migration - Asyl seekers remain at high levels in the Northeast

The number of asylum applications in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has slightly decreased in the first half of the year but remains at a high level. From January to June of this year, 2.464 applications were recorded, which is approximately 130 fewer than in the previous year's period, as the Interior Ministry in Schwerin informed the German Press Agency on inquiry.

This number was significantly lower in earlier years. In the first half of 2022, for instance, there were approximately 1,900 applications, and around 1,200 in 2021. In the entire year 2023, the number reached more than 6,000 applications, which is the highest since years.

Many applications were submitted by people from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

757 applications were submitted in the first half of this year by people from Syria, followed by Afghanistan (547) and Turkey (213). The applicants come from numerous countries.

According to a spokesperson for the ministry, the accommodation capacity in the country is gradually being increased to around 2,400, currently, there are more than 1,200 at the two sites in Stern Buchholz in Schwerin and Nostorf-Horst (Ludwigslust-Parchim). The cabinet made this decision in the spring.

"Agreements have been reached between the owner and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on rental agreements for additional accommodation buildings at the Stern Buchholz property. The necessary renovation work for these buildings has been partially started," the spokesperson added.

SPD politician: Accommodation in the country still unsatisfactory

SPD interior politician Martina Tegtmeier emphasized: "This current slight relaxation should not be misleading, as the accommodation situation in the country is still not satisfactory, and the numbers can quickly rise again."

Protests against refugee accommodations continue in the northeast, such as in the small town of Upahl (Nordwestmecklenburg). This accommodation is supposed to be closed, as announced recently, not in October but only in summer 2025.

Calls for border protection

CDU and AfD in the state parliament demand a consistent border protection. CDU fraction leader Daniel Peters said on inquiry: "The right to asylum should ideally be examined and granted in a third country outside the EU. In addition, individual asylum rights should be abolished and replaced with fixed quotas."

AfD politician Jan-Phillip Tadsen said: "Decisive for the end of illegal migration is a effective border protection. All available forces from state and federal police must set a visible stop sign. This means that all persons who want to enter a secure third country like Poland must first be detained in transit centers and then sent back."

FDP politician: Asyl procedures should be made legally secure and faster

FDP fraction leader René Domke said that the decrease in asylum applications at the federal level has been much higher than in MV. The state government must align itself with the federal states that have acted more quickly and successfully against illegal border crossings, Domke said. "The goal is not only to reduce the number of applicants and applications but also to make the asylum procedures legally secure and faster."

The payment card may come in the fall.

A payment card for asylum seekers is intended to prevent payments to smugglers or families in home countries, relieve the burden on municipalities in administration, and reduce the incentive for irregular migration. The country hopes to introduce its payment card for asylum seekers in the fall - but it was uncertain in the end if it would work. According to the responsible interior ministry, a provisional decision on awarding the contract had been made following a Europe-wide tender, against which an unsuccessful bidder had protested.

Link politician: bring positive effects to the fore

Steffi Pulz-Debler, migration political spokesperson for the Left faction, sees Mecklenburg-Vorpommern fundamentally well-positioned in the reception and integration of refugees. It is important to make the positive effects come to the fore, she said. "Germany and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are in need of labor and expertise due to the skills and labor shortage."

Constanze Oehlrich, Green fraction leader, said: "It is important that the people who seek protection with us are safe here. In the past year, there has been a massive increase in right-wing violent crimes. Here, the state government is called upon."

The Interior Ministry in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, reported a decrease in asylum applications, but they remain at a high level, with 2,464 applications recorded from January to June.
Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey were the countries from which many asylum applications originated, with 757 applications from Syria alone.
The accommodation capacity in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is being increased to around 2,400, with current occupancy at over 1,200 at two sites in Stern Buchholz and Nostorf-Horst (Ludwigslust-Parchim).
The SPD criticized the accommodation situation in Germany, stating that the current slight relaxation should not mislead, as the numbers can quickly rise again.
CDU and AfD in the state parliament called for consistent border protection, with the CDU fraction leader suggesting that asylum applications should be examined and granted in a third country outside the EU.
FDP politician René Domke argued that the state government should align itself with federal states that have successfully acted against illegal border crossings and reduce the number of applicants and applications.
Green fraction leader Constanze Oehlrich emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of those seeking protection in Germany, as there was a massive increase in right-wing violent crimes in the past year.
According to the German Press Agency, a payment card for asylum seekers is intended to prevent payments to smugglers, relieve the burden on municipalities, and reduce the incentive for irregular migration.
Steffi Pulz-Debler, migration political spokesperson for the Left faction, saw Germany and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well-positioned in the reception and integration of refugees, highlighting the need for labor and expertise in the country.