1. Germany’s Refugee Crisis
Craig Shankar
March 22nd, 2018

2. Background European refugee crisis
Civil wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria
Worsening conditions in UNHCR refugee camps
1.26M first-time asylum seekers entered Europe in 20151
Aug 2015: Germany suspends Dublin procedure for Syrians and declares: wir schaffen das (we can do this)
Germany received more than any other EU country, most coming from Syria
1. Eurostat News Release – 4 March 2016

3. Germany numbers

4. STAGES OF GERMAN ASYLUM PROCEDURE
1. Arrival and registration
2. Initial Distribution of Asylum-Seekers (EASY system)
3. The responsible reception facility
4. Personal asylum applications
5. Examining the Dublin procedure
6. The personal interview
7. The decision of the Federal Office
8. Forms of protection
9. Appeals against the decision
Stages of the asylum procedure - Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Germany)
Arrival and registration: When asylum-seekers arrive in Germany, they report to a state organization and are registered, after which they receive a temporary identification document. Only then can the asylum procedure begin.
Initial Distribution of Asylum-Seekers: Registration is followed by the Initial Distribution of Asylum-Seekers among the Federal states. This ensures suitable, fair distribution among the various regions of the country.
The responsible reception facility: The reception facility is responsible for providing food and board and informs the closest branch office of the Federal Office or the nearest arrival center.
Personal asylum applications: Where a personal application is made, further documents are recorded, and asylum-seekers are informed of their rights and duties within the asylum procedure.
Examining the Dublin procedure: The Dublin procedure is held prior to the actual examination of the asylum application, and establishes which European country is responsible for examining an asylum application.
The personal interview: The interview forms the basis for the decision in the asylum proceedings. The decision rests on the fate of the individual applicant as a matter of principle. Applicants are afforded sufficient time in order to explain their personal reasons for taking flight.
The decision of the Federal Office: The Federal Office decides on the asylum application on the basis of the personal interview and of a detailed examination of documents and items of evidence.
Forms of protection: The Federal Office examines each asylum application on the basis of the German Asylum Act as to whether one of the four forms of protection – entitlement to asylum, refugee protection, subsidiary protection, or a ban on deportation – applies.
Appeals against the decision: Applicants have appeals at their disposal against a negative notice: They can take court action against the decision of the Federal Office.
The outcome of the asylum proceedings: The final decision of the Federal Office – the conclusion of the asylum proceedings – is followed either by a right of residence or by a right to remain, or by an obligation to depart.
10. The outcome of the asylum proceedings

5. German Response Federation Länder and local authorities
Asylum system processing capacity
Stem flow
Humanitarian aid
Safe country designation
Security
Border and security controls
response to crime and terrorism (New Year’s eve 2015 in Cologne, 2016 Christmas market)
Integration law
Länder and local authorities
Housing
Arrival services
Integration of children into education system
Coordination between Länder and Federation to strengthen planning and address funding issues.

6. German Response - Integration
Entry into workforce
Relaxed restrictions on permissions to work
Integration course – 9 months of language training and cultural awareness
Job-specific language training
100,000 one Euro jobs
Private sector partnerships
Education
Increase access to financial aid
Language training to promote entry into courses
Academic advising
Social
Housing
School-age children

7. Costs Annual operating budget of 329B Euros (2016)
Contributions by the Federation in response to the flow of asylum seekers in billions of euros
2016
estimate
2017
Projection
Combating the root causes of refugee flows
7.1
7.2
Arrival procedure, registration, housing during asylum procedure
1.4
1.3
Contribution to integration measures
2.1
3.2
Social transfers after asylum procedures
1.7
2.7
Direct financial support for Länder/local authorities
9.3
6.9
Total asylum-related contribution from the federal budget
21.7
21.3
Owing to rounding, figures may not add up.
Source: Germany Federal Ministry of Finance.
Annual operating budget of 329B Euros (2016)
6.2B budget surplus in 2016