Georgia, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco : the Bundestag considers the Maghreb countries in particular and Georgia as a safe

The Bundestag has approved the classification of the Maghreb countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as of Georgia as safe countries of Origin with a clear majority. For the draft law of the Federal government, 509 deputies voted on Friday in a roll-call vote, 138 were four abstentions. Earlier, interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) had been campaigning for the scheme. The asylum will be accelerated procedures for people from those countries, they could also be a rejection faster.

The consent of the Bundestag on the draft bill had been expected. However, the scheme may enter into force only if the Federal Council agrees. This failed once already at the resistance of the Greens in the Bundesrat, the looming now.

Seehofer argued with the already very low chances of success for asylum applicants from the four countries concerned for their classification as safe countries of Origin. The recognition rate in 2018 for people from Algeria amounted to 1.2 per cent, for people from Morocco, 2.3 per cent. From Tunisia to 1.9 percent of asylum applications were granted, from Georgia only 0.3 percent.

Seehofer added as a positive example of the process with the West Balkan States had been pushed back due to the recognition as safe countries of Origin "abusive asylum claim". At the same time, he emphasized the individual's claim to asylum would be maintained.

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For the Greens, the Deputy Luise Amtsberg reiterated the rejection of the draft law. The "Grand coalition" wanted to foist on the people that are classified as safe countries of Origin actual problems in the field of asylum policy could be solved. Indeed, but other things would have to be urgently tackled, such as improving the structures of the Federal office for Migration and refugees (Bamf) or measures for Integration.

Previously, had already confirmed the Green-Chairman Anna Lena Baerbock, the negative attitude of their party. It was a constitutional and legally highly questionable "symbol in the debate, which goes to the actual problems over," she said in the ZDF"morning magazine.

In the Bundestag, the Left party Deputy Ulla Jelpke rejected the classification of the Maghreb States and of Georgia as a safe country of origin. These make an unbiased examination of asylum applications is impossible.

The FDP-politician Linda Teuteberg has announced the approval of the law, and canvassed at the same time, for a resolution of their party. The liberals demanded to examine the classification of additional States as safe countries of Origin, in which the recognition rate of asylum seekers is regularly below five percent. The resolution was rejected.

The AfD-politician Lars Herrmann explained that the planned law to the Maghreb States and Georgia is "long overdue and urgently". However, allow only the asylum procedure to be completed more quickly; a refusal would mean not that the person Concerned must leave the country or be deported, the legal Herrmann.

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of The SPD-deputies, Helge Lindh defended the bill against criticism. It is planned to a "presumption of control", according to which asylum applications from the four States were unfounded. Every Single one but I will continue to place, a regular hearing of the possibility this presumption to resist, - said Lindh. (dpa)