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Increase in voluntary departures in Brandenburg: 807 returnees by September!
The articles shed light on the increasing voluntary departures from Brandenburg, especially in the Teltow-Fläming district.
Increase in voluntary departures in Brandenburg: 807 returnees by September!
The number of voluntary departures has experienced a remarkable increase in Brandenburg. From January to September 2023, 807 refugees left the state, as Interior Minister René Wilke (independent) announced in a response to a question from CDU MP Rainer Genilke. This number exceeds the return of 722 people in the whole of 2022. From January to September 2023 alone, 514 people have already taken advantage of this opportunity. The main destinations for their return are Syria with 127 returnees and Russia, which is also very popular with 121 people. What is particularly striking is that Russia is leading the most voluntary departures from Brandenburg in 2023 and 2024, which points to the special situation of refugees from this country.
A further step in this development is the planning of special exit facilities for people who are legally obliged to leave the country. The first of these facilities is to be built in Zossen-Wünsdorf in the Teltow-Fläming district. Brandenburg would like to promote voluntary returns and at the same time improve accessibility for authorities and courts.
Return programs and support
Interestingly, the humanitarian funding program REAG/GARP offers support for people who want to voluntarily return to their country of origin or move on to countries that are willing to accept them. From January 1, 2024, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will take over responsibility for implementing the program from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The funding depends on the nationality of the returnees and varies accordingly. In 2024, 10,358 people were able to leave the country through the REAG/GARP program, with a total of 10,762 voluntary departures taking place in 2023. The most common destination countries for returnees were Turkey, Georgia, North Macedonia, the Russian Federation, Albania and Iraq.
However, the number of subsidized departures to the visa-liberalized Western Balkan states and to Kosovo has decreased compared to previous years. These departure figures also correspond to historical trends, which sometimes show enormous fluctuations due to geopolitical events such as the Balkan conflicts or the influx of people seeking protection from 2015 onwards. A decline is also recorded in 2020 and 2021, which is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions.
A look at the definition
What does it actually mean to leave voluntarily? According to the definition, volunteers are people who decide to leave their homeland without coercion or pressure. This voluntary nature is reflected not only in the positive development of departure numbers, but also in the support offered to returnees to make it easier for them to return home. It is a step that can represent a significant turning point in life for many.