German government takes 3,000 Afghans via admissions program

The German government confirmed, in response to a request for information last week posed by the conservative opposition CDU / CSU parties, that since the Taliban takeover in the summer of 2021, 3,000 people had been granted permission to come to Germany via a federal admissions program (Bundesaufnahmeprogramm, or BAP). The first 540 have already arrived, reported the German Catholic news agency KNA.

The program is designed to help those who work or have worked in the fields of women’s or human rights, or who had roles in the judiciary education or politics prior to the Taliban takeover. Those people are often at the forefront of persecution under the Taliban rule, and Germany offered a special program to try and offer protection to some of these people.

According to the terms of the federal program, about 1,000 people a month are expected to arrive in Germany, although so far, not many people have been transferred.

To date, more than 34,000 Afghans in danger have arrived in Germany through various programs set up to help them after the Taliban took over the country in the summer of 2021, reported KNA.

Also read: First Afghans arrive in Germany under special admissions program

Budget cuts

Germany, like many other European countries, is having to pull its belt with regard to finances. The budget for 2025 will see many ministries having to cut down on their spending. The government’s special reception program is one of those things earmarked for cuts.

Amnesty International alleged that the German government might be cutting programs like this by as much as 90 percent. The human rights organization made a plea to the German government that they maintain their commitment to and spending on the program until at least the end of the current legislative term, which is due to finish in autumn 2025 after the next election.

KNA reports that ministers are currently in discussion about which programs will receive finance in the last part of the legislative session.

Terre de Hommes, another human rights organization, also spoke out against any potential cuts the German government might be planning. Terre des Hommes spokesperson Joshua Hofert said: “The special evacuation program offers hope and a chance of survival to thousands of people in danger. Any cuts to this program would take away from thousands who might qualify the last chance at a more secure life.”

Hofert added that thousands of people in Afghanistan who are in the process of applying for these programs, or waiting for access to be granted, are living in very dangerous circumstances, many of them hidden, in fear of what might happen to them if the Taliban authorities discover where they are, or that they are trying to leave the country.

Also read: 1,000 days after school ban, Afghan girls thrive in Rwanda

Additional bureaucratic hurdles at Afghan consulates in West

On Tuesday, (July 30) the Taliban- controlled Afghan Foreign Ministry announced that it will no longer recognize consular documents issued by certain diplomatic missions in several Western countries. These include those in Bonn and Berlin, reports the German press agency dpa.

In addition, Afghan missions in London, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Australia have also been struck off the list.

According to a statement issued by the Taliban’s foreign office, these missions have been acting “arbitrarily” and violated Kabul’s directives.

Any Afghans living in these countries have been advised to travel to other countries in order to access consular services.

The decision “is expected to create significant hardship for Afghans residing in the affected countries,” and will cause “further challenges for them in accessing essential services and navigating bureaucratic hurdles,” reports dpa.

The Taliban regime still has not been officially recognized by any country. But Germany and several other EU countries are looking into ways that they might be able to send back Afghan citizens convicted of crimes in Germany. At the moment the government says it is maintaining talks via neighboring countries. Normally though, in order to carry out deportations, a country would need a diplomatic presence in the country and to be in contact with the receiving authorities so that they can ensure the deportees are accepted once they land.

Shifting priorities for German government

At the budget meeting on July 5, programs like those operated for Afghan citizens were not listed among the priorities for the German government.

Instead, the focus was on security, both internal and external, building consensus within Germany, and ensuring that “irregular migration” was controlled to protect the country’s stability and prosperity.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke about how “insecurity” was pushing people towards right-wing populists in lots of European countries, including Germany. He said that some of the worries and insecurities felt by the German people were caused by irregular migration, and the fears among German citizens that “the state was not always fulfilling its duties correctly.”

Scholz said that security was his main priority. Apart from additional funding and strengthening to the military and defense, Scholz spoke about how Germany could only be strong when it remained united. He said that unity was achieved “not just through social policy, but also could be weakened when people have the impression that things are not fair.”

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Pro Asyl criticizes Germany’s ‘anti-integration’ budget

On July 17, the human rights organization Pro Asyl dubbed the German government’s 2025 budget, which will see cuts to the foreign ministry, the development ministry as well as the economy ministry, an “anti-integration” budget.

In a press release, Pro Asyl said that the budget was not about the security of all, but represented “the opposite of security” for people who had fled to Germany.

Although the interior ministry will get more money than it did this year — 403 million euros with 200 million euros earmarked for migration and integration — Pro Asyl said “although this might sound good, there is a catch.”

“The money is primarily for technical equipment, surveillance and for the Federal Police. The money for integration will in fact be halved.”

The programs to be affected the most, stated Pro Asyl, are likely to be the federal admissions program for Afghanistan and also the resettlement budget.

According to Pro Asyl, the BAP program “could be about to be scrapped.” Budgets for these kinds of programs, according to Pro Asyl, will be cut by about 13 percent compared to the budgets allowed in 2024. “This will mean de facto the end of the BAP program,” stated Pro Asyl.

“And that means unfair treatment of Afghans in danger.” Even now, with bigger budgets, Pro Asyl points out, the program has encountered “numerous difficulties.”

In fact, although the program states it should be taking 1,000 people a month, by the middle of July, just over 500 people had arrived. “In the future, with even less money, the program will be completely dead,” predicts Pro Asyl. “And with it, the last hope for those Afghans who are being persecuted by the Taliban.”

Also read: German government flies more Afghans to Germany

Spending on integration crucial for a united society, says Pro Asyl

According to Pro Asyl, savings will also be made on the German integration programs. At the moment, the government has allotted 1.1 billion euros for integration and language courses. In 2025, that sum will be 500 million euros. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser herself has called some of these cuts “painful,” noted Pro Asyl.

According to media reports, underlined Pro Asyl in its statement, the Interior Ministry is about to examine and evaluate the whole structure of the integration courses and how they are working.

Going back to Scholz’ emphasis on security and unity in Germany, Pro Asyl says that cutting the budgets for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants could actually damage unity within German society and societal peace.

“Good language learning and integration are incredibly important to create an open and inclusive society,” they state. 

Also read: Almost as many Afghans arriving across Channel as on official schemes