Four Integration Ministers from The Greens are challenging the plans of Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to cut funding for independent asylum counseling services by the end of the year. In a letter reported by “Der Spiegel”, the ministers are urging the CSU politician to rethink this decision.
Verena Schäffer (North Rhine-Westphalia), Aminata Touré (Schleswig-Holstein), Katharina Binz (Rhineland-Palatinate), and Manfred Lucha (Baden-Württemberg) wrote that discontinuing the measure risks counteracting the desired acceleration of asylum proceedings, potentially leading instead to greater delays. Given that current budget planning specifies a complete withdrawal of funds, many crucial counseling centers serving asylum seekers could face severe financial difficulties.
Schäffer informed “Der Spiegel” that “independent asylum counseling is a key element for the smooth operation of asylum procedures”. She added that comprehensive counseling not only helps processes run more efficiently but also ensures that affected individuals are better informed. She emphasized that when asylum seekers can make well-informed decisions, it also reduces the workload on state authorities and courts.
This advisory service was initially introduced in 2023 by the then-Traffic Light Coalition and is governed by Section 12a of the Asylum Act. Federal law supports “agency-independent, result-open, free, individual, and voluntary asylum counseling”. This allows asylum seekers to meet with counselors confidentially “before” their formal hearing to discuss questions about their personal cases. Both the CDU/CSU and the SPD had previously agreed in their coalition pact to evaluate the counseling service in an open-ended manner.
The Integration Ministers Conference is meeting for the second day of its deliberations in Essen.
