Germany’s interior ministry is preparing to cut funding for independent asylum counselling by around 80 percent. This would save a small sum for the state, but could have life-changing consequences for the most vulnerable immigrants.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior, led by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, plans to reduce funding for independent asylum procedure counselling from €24.5 million this year to just €5 million next year.
Under the proposal, independent counselling would no longer be broadly available and would instead be limited to asylum seekers considered “particularly vulnerable”.
Details of the plans emerged through an Interior Ministry fact sheet obtained by Left Party MPs and first reported by the Evangelical Press Service.
The ministry argues that asylum seekers will still have access to free legal information through the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), the authority responsible for processing asylum applications.
In the government’s view, Germany will therefore continue to meet its obligations under the European asylum system.
For critics, it amounts to dismantling a system that was created only a few years ago to make asylum procedures fairer and more transparent.
Funding cut
Under the current asylum procedure, Germany provides asylum seekers with advice through both BAMF and a federally funded network of independent counselling organisations. Since 2023, independent organisations including welfare associations, church organisations and refugee support groups have received federal funding to provide counselling independently of the authority making the final decision on asylum.
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These organisations currently receive around €24.5 million in federal funding each year.
The government’s proposal would dramatically reduce that funding to €5 million. Independent counselling would continue only for people considered particularly vulnerable, while most asylum seekers would be expected to rely solely on the information services offered by BAMF.
Government says the cuts are justified
The Interior Ministry presents the changes primarily as an administrative and legal issue.
Officials point out that the reformed Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which took effect in June, guarantees asylum seekers access to free legal information. Germany, the ministry says, already fulfils that requirement through counselling offered by BAMF.
The ministry also notes that there is no legal entitlement to counselling that is independent of government authorities.
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Why critics say this is a reversal of earlier reforms
In 2023, Germany reformed its asylum counselling system, replacing the previous BAMF-run model with counselling provided independently of government authorities.
According to migration expert and psychologist Carsten Stumpenhorst, one reason was what many saw as an obvious contradiction. The same authority responsible for deciding whether an asylum application succeeds or fails was also expected to provide supposedly independent guidance to applicants.
In an interview with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, he also argued that many refugees arrive with low trust in state institutions because of their experiences with authorities at home.
Independent advisers were intended to complement BAMF’s information services by offering confidential support before key stages of the asylum process. Their role was to help applicants understand the process, prepare for hearings and identify information that could be relevant to their claim before a formal decision is made.
Germany’s asylum system depends heavily on applicants explaining why they need protection, often shortly after arrival. People – who may have experienced war, persecution, torture or other forms of violence – must present their experiences clearly and consistently during an interview with officials.
Supporters of independent counselling argue that many people struggle to do this without professional assistance.
Stumpenhorst has warned that removing the service could make it harder for refugees to fully exercise their rights and could increase the risk of incorrect decisions. He also argued that the cuts could ultimately lead to more lawsuits, longer delays and higher costs.
What is meant by ‘particularly vulnerable’?
The Interior Ministry says independent counselling will continue for vulnerable individuals, but hasn’t yet clarified in detail which groups qualify.
Left Party MP Clara Bünger has argued that this creates a practical problem, as identifying vulnerable individuals is itself part of the legal mandate for independent counselling.
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The introduction of the reformed Common European Asylum System earlier this year has also made the legal framework more complex. As a result, asylum seekers are now more dependent than ever on independent guidance, says Bünger.
A small saving in a much larger debate
The proposed saving amounts to roughly €19.5 million per year. While significant for the organisations providing the service, it is a relatively small sum in the context of Germany’s overall federal budget.
Stumpenhorst argues that the move fits into a wider political climate in which politicians compete to propose ever tougher measures on migration.
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