Law for faster asylum procedures passed

The Union, the left-wing faction and the right-wing populist AfD rejected the project on Friday. Two MPs abstained from voting, as Bundestag chairman Bärbel Bas noted on Friday.

With the new regulation, the so-called standard assessment by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) is abolished. Until now, this check automatically checks after a certain time whether there are reasons to withdraw or withdraw the recognition of the right to asylum and the granting of refugee status. The review should only be carried out “on an ad hoc basis” in the future – also to relieve the Bamf.

In addition, asylum seekers should be able to benefit from advice that is independent of the authorities. The advice on asylum procedures is entrusted to civil society actors, who receive funding from the German state. In the future, in exceptional cases, the hearing in the asylum procedure can take place by means of video and audio transmission.

The asylum application procedures before the administrative court, which according to the German government currently take an average of 26.6 months, will also be shortened. One of the aims of harmonizing case law is to do something about this. It was initially unclear when the law would come into effect.

In addition, the Bundestag approved the so-called right of residence on Friday. This is intended to provide perspective for well-integrated foreigners who have been living in Germany for several years without a permanent status. Anyone who has lived in the country for five years on October 31, 2022 and has not committed a crime must have 18 months to complete the long-term residency requirements. Consider, for example, knowledge of German and securing your own livelihood.

(SDA)