The interior ministry plans to end state funding for independent asylum procedure counseling from 2027. Organizations like AWO and Pro Asyl sharply criticize the move as a serious political mistake. The program, running since 2023, has already advised over 108,000 asylum seekers.
Amid debates on stricter asylum rules, the interior ministry informed welfare associations of its plan to cut funding for independent asylum procedure counseling from 2027. This state-funded, free program informs protection seekers about their rights and duties to promote efficient procedures by avoiding hopeless appeals. It was decided in 2022 by the Ampel coalition in the law to accelerate asylum court proceedings and has been available since mid-2023. In the first two years, around 108,000 asylum seekers used the counseling from civil society organizations and welfare associations. Annual funding was recently 22 to 25 million euros, after starting with 20 million euros in mid-2023. From 2027, it is set to drop to zero. The Workers' Welfare Association (AWO) views this as a 'serious political mistake,' as President Michael Groß told the RedaktionsNetzwerks Deutschland (RND): 'After all the attacks on the right to asylum, civil society is now actively being pushed back from supporting refugees.' Pro Asyl managing director Karl Kopp stressed: 'Independent asylum procedure counseling is not a luxury, but a central safeguard of the rule of law in the asylum process.' He warned of a 'wrong and dangerous signal,' as protection seekers could lose access to justice without this guidance. The interior ministry does not confirm the plans and refers to ongoing budget negotiations. Green MP Leon Eckert reports advanced plans based on alleged budget constraints and a non-public evaluation result. He criticizes Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) for a 'migration policy and humanitarian blind flight' and notes that the program eases the burden on the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). States have reduced their own funding programs, with losses exceeding 12 million euros annually. The AWO appeals to the Bundestag to reverse the cut in the 2027 budget talks and secure the program permanently. In light of the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), organizations see the counseling as key to secure, humane, and efficient procedures.
