- Increase in asylum-related lawsuits before judicial bodies in the Northern Region
Last year saw a surge in asylum court cases in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In 2023, there were approximately 1,590 major proceedings, an increase of 366 cases compared to the year prior, as per data provided by the Schwerin Justice Ministry to the German Press Agency. The year 2021 and 2019 saw over 1,100 proceedings each, while 2020 had over 1,300.
Individuals who disagree with a decision made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees can file a lawsuit at an administrative court. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has two such courts, one in Greifswald and the other in Schwerin.
Emergency applications also saw an uptick
The court evaluates the Federal Office's decision. If they determine that grounds for asylum are present, they revoke the original decision and instruct the Federal Office to grant asylum. If the rejection is upheld, the lawsuit is dismissed, and the departue obligation remains.
The number of emergency applications also climbed in 2023, reaching 484 cases, compared to 417 in 2022. From 2019 to 2021, this number fluctuated between 369 and 457. The average duration of emergency proceedings was around 1.5 months last year, slightly longer than in 2022.
Minister: More judges for administrative courts
The average length of major proceedings decreased by about 3.5 months in 2023, a trend often attributed to older cases being resolved.
Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt (Left) stated: "Individuals require swift clarity concerning their status within a lawful procedure. Faster proceedings primarily rely on the availability and deployment of judicial personnel within the administrative judiciary." Consequently, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's administrative courts have been strengthened with five additional staff positions.
Other asylum seekers may choose to challenge the Federal Office's decisions through administrative courts, as there are two such courts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Despite the increase in major proceedings and emergency applications, calls for more judicial personnel in the administrative courts to expedite processes have been made, with a focus on providing swift clarity for asylum seekers.
