May 13, 2016•Update: May 13, 2016
BERLIN
Germany’s parliament on Friday declared Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia “safe countries” in a bid to limit migration from these North African countries.
The controversial bill was approved by a vote of 42-143, with 3 abstaining.
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere defended the move, arguing that the majority of the asylum-seekers from those countries are not eligible for international protection, and are economically motivated.
“Asylum-seekers from these countries are normally not victims of political persecution,” he told lawmakers.
“In 2015 only 2.1 percent of asylum-seekers from these countries were eligible for protection. In the first quarter of this year, this fell to 0.7 percent,” he said.
Listing a state as “safe country” presumes that there is no political persecution there, accelerates examination procedures of the German authorities, and limits many social benefits for asylum-seekers from these countries during their period of stay in the country.
De Maiziere said individuals from these countries can still apply for asylum in Germany, but will be eligible for protection only if they prove that they face political prosecution back home.
The opposition Left Party and the Green Party have sharply criticized classifying Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia as safe countries, arguing that these three countries still have serious human rights problems.
Germany received 1.1 million refugees in 2015, many of them Syrian and Iraqi nationals who escaped conflicts.
In the second half of 2015, the number of economic migrants from North African countries rapidly increased, forcing German authorities to change legislation to accelerate extradition procedures for many of them who are not eligible for asylum.
De Maiziere said the government is currently in talks with these countries to facilitate mechanisms for the return of North African nationals who are denied asylum in Germany.
