Media reports Germany freezing great refugee program

(MENAFN) Germany has temporarily suspended its participation in a UN refugee resettlement program, according to the DPA news agency, citing the Interior Ministry. The program, managed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), resettles asylum seekers who are considered to be in urgent need of protection. The suspension comes amid rising anti-immigration sentiment in Germany, particularly following violent incidents involving foreign nationals in recent months. In the February general election, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), both of which support stricter migration policies, gained significant support.

The suspension is attributed to ongoing coalition negotiations between the CDU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). While the freeze affects new refugee admissions, exceptions will be made for those whose asylum applications are already well underway. The two political parties have agreed to end voluntary refugee admission programs and avoid committing to new ones.

Germany had previously pledged to take in 13,100 asylum seekers in 2024 and 2025, of which 5,061 have already arrived. Reports from earlier this year showed a noticeable drop in new asylum applications, a trend attributed to expanded border controls with neighboring EU countries.

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