The Conservative-Social Democrat coalition government led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is offering refugees who qualify for international protection in Greece the chance to return to their initial entry country in the EU through a voluntary program if they have moved to Germany and reapplied for asylum. However, interest among refugees appears to be quite low, as reported by Spiegel Online, which notes that only “14 refugees voluntarily returned to Greece.”
The article mentions that the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) confirmed that only 14 individuals had returned to Greece by May 21, despite nearly 100,000 refugees recognized as eligible for civil protection in Greece having arrived in Germany over the last five years.
Misleading Information for Refugees
Thus far, around 2,000 individuals across all federal states in Germany have received letters about the option for voluntary return to Greece, with only 78 expressing interest. In these letters, BAMF assures refugees that they will be met at the airport in Greece, provided with accommodation including “full board” for up to four months, and enrolled in Greek integration programs to help them prepare for the labor market.
The NGO Pro Asyl has strongly criticized the communication from BAMF, arguing that the agency is creating unrealistic expectations and attempting to coerce refugees into returning to Greece with misleading information and a contentious support program.
On April 16, the Supreme Administrative Court of Germany in Leipzig ruled that deportations of unmarried, healthy, able-bodied male refugees to Greece are permissible. This ruling could have far-reaching consequences, potentially paving the way for forced deportations affecting tens of thousands of refugees.
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