Migration - The minister hopes for the introduction of Asyl-Bezahlkarte this year
Lower Saxony Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens hopes for the introduction of a payment card for asylum applicants this year. "We are preparing ourselves in Lower Saxony as much as possible and are in talks with the municipalities," the SPD politician told the German Press Agency in Hannover.
Recently, it was reported that the tender process has been delayed. The reasons for the delays are objections from companies in the tender process, as the responsible company Dataport in Hamburg has announced.
"I regret that the tender process is now delayed. That doesn't come entirely unexpectedly, given the large contract volumes in this tender procedure. A provider for the payment card is to be selected in 14 of the 16 federal states," explained Behrens. Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are going their own ways
Payments are to be limited to 50 Euro per month
When asked if the card would still come this year, the Minister said: "I hope so, but we don't have it in our hands."
In Lower Saxony, the cards are planned to be issued at the reception centers, from where they could be taken to the municipalities. A large part of the federal states had agreed at the end of June to limit payments to 50 Euro per month.
The card is intended to prevent cash payments to smugglers or families in the home countries, relieve municipalities in administration, and reduce the incentive for irregular migration. Refugees without a German bank account have been receiving a debit card for payment without cash in Hannover for some months.
Minister: No longer cash on time
The Greens, coalition partners of the SPD in Lower Saxony, recently expressed concerns about the 50 Euro limit for cash withdrawals. Behrens said about this: "For me, this is a debate that is being conducted very emotionally, but which will quickly be clarified in practice. The cash limit was decided by the Minister-President Conference and we are implementing it in Lower Saxony." Further restrictions are not planned in Lower Saxony, Behrens emphasized.
It's not about discriminating against refugees, said the Minister. It's about preventing transfers to foreign countries and criminal activity related to money transfer, and digitizing processes. "Because now refugees have to stand in line and wait for their cash every month, just like they used to have to wait for a tip with money in the shipyard and shipping industry. That's not up-to-date," said Behrens.
- Despite the delay in the tender process in Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have decided to proceed independently with their payment card solutions for asylum seekers.
- The payment card for asylum seekers in Lower Saxony is expected to be issued at the reception centers and can be taken to the municipalities for further use.
- When asked about the potential delay in introducing the payment card, Daniela Behrens, the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, expressed hope but acknowledged they don't have complete control over the timeline.
- The SPD politician, Daniela Behrens, highlighted that the primary purpose of the payment card is to prevent cash payments to smugglers and family members in the home countries, relieve municipalities in administration, and reduce the incentive for irregular migration.
- Despite concerns raised by the Greens, coalition partners of the SPD in Lower Saxony, over the 50 Euro limit for cash withdrawals, Behrens emphasized that further restrictions are not planned in Lower Saxony.
- The German Press Agency reported that Daniela Behrens, the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, shared her views on the payment card for asylum seekers during an event in Hannover.
- Asylum seekers in Hamburg have been using debit cards for payment without cash for several months, and Lower Saxony aims to implement a similar system to streamline processes and prevent potential financial misuse.
