Berlin is initiating the removal of numerous asylum applicants to Turkey.
Germany is planning to send back around 13,500 Turkish individuals who have had their asylum requests denied. This decision comes after extensive discussions between Berlin and Ankara, as mentioned in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" news outlet, citing government sources. Arrangements are already in place to transport up to 500 individuals weekly.
Last year, just 871 individuals were sent back to Turkey, but the influx of people from Turkey into Germany had significantly increased due to economic hardships in their homeland and the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As a result, Turkey became the second-most common country of origin for asylum seekers, trailing only Syria. However, approval rates remain low, at just 13%.
Many of these individuals scheduled for deportation currently hold tolerance permits, owing to missing or invalid documentation. Recently, Turkey has demonstrated a greater willingness to assist in this matter. Additionally, a resolution has been reached on a complex issue – Turkey had previously refused charter flights for its citizens due to public image concerns, making deportations possible only through scheduled flights with limited capacity. Now, these repatriation flights will officially be known as "special flights," which Turkey is more likely to accept.
In return for expediting deportations, the federal government is reportedly pledging to expedite visa application processing. Turkey ultimately aims for visa-free travel in the long term. Furthermore, a ministerial reshuffle in Turkey has noticeably accelerated many previously slow-moving procedures.
The decision to return 13,500 individuals to Turkey, whose asylum requests have been denied, is a significant step taken by Germany. This move is in response to the increased influx of individuals from Turkey into Germany due to economic hardships and the re-election of President Erdogan, making Turkey the second-most common country of origin for asylum seekers.
