Interest remains low in the German government's offer to Afghan nationals to relinquish their guaranteed entry into Germany in exchange for financial compensation. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior told AFP in Berlin on Wednesday that 62 individuals have so far indicated their willingness to accept the offer, representing ten percent of those contacted.
However, the number may increase, as there is “contact with additional individuals who are in the decision-making process regarding possible acceptance,” the ministry spokesperson said.
The German government had offered money and material support to Afghan citizens who had traveled to Pakistan, provided they agreed to forgo entering Germany. The proposal most recently involved a one-time payment of €2,500 before and €10,000 after returning to Pakistan, or in some cases to third countries. In addition, recipients would receive material assistance such as medical care, accommodation, and food for several months.
Those contacted were originally meant to be brought to Germany through the Federal Admission Programme, with financial assistance offered under the condition that they voluntarily and permanently withdraw from the procedure. The aim is to ease pressure on the programme, which has been stalled for months. According to the Interior Ministry, 1,849 people in Pakistan currently hold German admission approvals.
Germany launched its admission programmes after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, seeking to provide permanent humanitarian protection for particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals. However, the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD includes the commitment to end these admission programmes “as far as possible.” The CDU in particular has taken a critical stance on admitting Afghan nationals, pointing to security concerns among other issues.
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