Germany has launched a special return scheme, called an “humanitarian aid programme”, to use cash as an enticement for migrants to return to their homeland.
At the same time, the German parliament agreed tighter asylum rules in an effort to halt the unparalleled influx of refugee arrivals. The measures include restrictions on family reunions and easier procedures to expel foreigners convicted of criminal acts.
The voluntary repatriation scheme provides some travel costs for those who agree to leave the country, and officials are hoping in particular to encourage those whose asylum applications are likely to fail.
The programme can cover rail, bus or air travel or pay up to €250 to anyone going by car. Returnees also may receive €200 for sundry travel costs, reduced to €100 for children.
The travel fees are likely to be less expensive than forced deportation procedures.
In addition, “start-up aid” of up to €500 could be provided to qualifying migrants from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ghana. Migrants from western Balkan countries are excluded from the programme.
More than 37,000 people took up the offer in 2015.
Officials say that applications for assisted voluntary returns to Afghanistan have increased significantly over the last week. According to the Afghan Embassy in Germany the number is as high as 1,000.
