Berlin and Ankara find themselves in a diplomatic row over reports of a deal to expedite the deportation of rejected Turkish asylum seekers from Germany.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser confirmed that an agreement exists, but Türkiye’s government has firmly denied these claims.
“The claim reported in the German press stated, ‘Germany and Türkiye have reached an agreement. Every week, 500 Turks without legal residency rights will be sent back to Türkiye on private flights is false. During the meeting between our President and German Chancellor Scholz in New York on September 23, this topic was not raised as alleged. No approval has been given for any application regarding the mass deportation of our citizens. Do not trust baseless claims.”
Turkish asylum seekers’ reports of mass deportations emerge
German media suggested that, after months of negotiations, Türkiye had agreed to accept up to 500 rejected asylum seekers per week.
In return, Germany reportedly promised to expedite its visa processing for Turkish citizens.
However, Türkiye’s Center for Combating Disinformation responded quickly, dismissing the claims as baseless, asserting that there was no approval for any large-scale deportations of Turkish nationals.
“No such practice of mass deportation has been sanctioned,” the center said in a statement released on Friday.
“We have achieved that returns to Türkiye can occur more quickly and effectively, and that Türkiye is accepting citizens who are not allowed to stay in Germany more rapidly. This is another building block for limiting irregular migration.”
German minister announces agreement on X
Despite Türkiye’s denial, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Berlin has indeed reached an agreement with Ankara.
Faeser highlighted the deal as a significant step in curbing irregular migration, stating: “We have now reached a point where returns to Türkiye can be conducted more swiftly and efficiently, ensuring Türkiye’s acceptance of its citizens who are not permitted to stay in Germany.”
Her post included a link to a Berliner Morgenpost article, which reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had offered to accept up to 500 citizens per week.
The article also claimed that the agreement followed extensive negotiations, with Germany agreeing to expedite visa applications for Turkish nationals in return.
15,561 Turkish citizens face deportation from Germany
According to reports, the plan involves the deportation of 200 Turkish nationals in the initial stage.
These individuals would be flown back to Türkiye on commercial flights. The agreement reportedly includes special flights, designated as “private operations,” where Türkiye could receive as many as 500 Turkish nationals weekly.
Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has ruled on 28,492 asylum applications from Turkish nationals this year, making Türkiye the third-largest group of asylum seekers after Syria and Afghanistan.
Currently, 15,561 Turkish nationals are set to be deported, according to the German Ministry of the Interior.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported that less than 900 Turkish nationals were deported in 2023.
The delay in deportations has largely been due to a lack of valid travel documents for many individuals.
Germany is home to the largest Turkish diaspora in Europe, with approximately 3 million Turkish nationals living in the country.
Measures to curb irregular migration
The agreement comes amid rising political tensions surrounding irregular migration in Germany and other EU member states.
In response, Germany implemented new border control measures along its land borders, effective Sept. 16.
The political climate intensified following a knife attack in Solingen in August, which reignited discussions on migration and deportation within Germany’s coalition government.
In light of this incident, new immigration measures were announced on Aug.30, focusing on expediting deportations, especially for individuals involved in violent crimes like stabbings.
These measures also impact asylum seekers who entered the EU through countries such as Syria and Afghanistan.
The Solingen attacker, a 26-year-old whose asylum request had been denied, was set to be deported to Bulgaria, his initial entry point into the EU.
However, the deportation did not occur, as he disappeared before the process could be completed.
Germany’s plan to deport rejected Turkish asylum seekers has sparked diplomatic tensions with Türkiye.
While Berlin confirmed the agreement, Ankara has firmly denied its existence, further complicating the ongoing debate over migration and deportation policies within the EU.
