Germany to cover expenses for rejected Turkish asylum seekers, says ruling party official

Murat Cahid Cingi, a member of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the EU Compliance Committee, said that Germany will cover the costs for Turkish asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected.

The AK Party official spoke to Euronews Turkish about various issues, including Schengen visa processes, Türkiye-EU relations, the rise of far-right politics in Europe and unimplemented European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings.

The issue of asylum seekers has sparked ongoing debate, with conflicting statements from both sides. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced that 500 Turkish nationals would be sent back to Türkiye each week.

However, Ankara has reportedly rejected this claim, suggesting a misunderstanding between the parties involved.

Who will cover costs of transportation?

Cingi stated that Türkiye has no direct involvement in the costs associated with transporting Turkish asylum seekers. He believes Germany will bear the expenses, whether the funds come from the United Nations, the European Union or Germany’s budget.

Schengen visa challenges

Cingi also discussed the difficulties Turkish citizens face in obtaining Schengen visas, noting that this has long been a challenge and has worsened in recent years. He emphasized that even businesspeople from Kayseri, a city known for its industrial and trade activities, are struggling to secure visas, with Germany not providing appointment slots for applications.

“We urge European Union ambassadors, including our ambassador to the EU, to address this issue. While the EU hasn’t granted full visa exemption, there has been an agreement to expedite the visa process for exchange programs like Erasmus,” Cingi maintained.

Dual citizenship issues

Cingi highlighted the difficulties Turkish citizens in Germany face concerning dual citizenship. Previously, individuals had to renounce their Turkish citizenship to obtain German citizenship. However, a new decision, effective June 2024, will permit dual citizenship.

Cingi on Türkiye’s EU membership bid

Regarding Türkiye’s long-standing bid for EU membership, Cingi noted that although Türkiye began its journey toward EU integration over five decades ago, the process has faced significant challenges.

“The EU has not fully honored its commitments to Türkiye. The inclusion of the Greek Cypriot administration as an EU member, despite ongoing border disputes, was a significant setback,” he said.

Cingi criticized the EU’s approach as insincere, suggesting that Türkiye has been used as leverage in negotiations over issues like Cyprus.

He emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s continued efforts to align with EU standards but stressed that mutual respect and genuine cooperation are necessary for meaningful progress.