Germany’s Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has announced plans to halt government funding for independent asylum counseling starting in 2027, citing budgetary constraints and the need to “bring order to migration policy.”
Currently, large welfare associations—funded by Berlin—provide guidance for asylum seekers on procedures.
The announcement sparked sharp criticism from welfare organizations and opposition parties. Michael Groß, president of the AWO Federal Association, one of Germany’s largest independent welfare organizations, called the planned cuts a “serious political mistake,” arguing that it would weaken rule-of-law protections and leave asylum seekers without essential independent support.
Karl Kopp of human rights group Pro Asyl emphasized that procedural guidance is not a luxury but central to ensuring fair treatment in a highly complex asylum process. The Interior Ministry, however, stressed that funding decisions are part of ongoing budget negotiations.
Meanwhile, under the previous traffic light coalition government (SPD, Greens, and FDP), nearly €900,000 was spent in early 2025 on Mediterranean migrant ‘rescues,’ benefiting groups such as SOS Humanity, SOS Mediterranee, and Sea-Eye. During that period, 5,555 migrants were ‘rescued’ at sea.
