Legislation : GERMANY

 

Immigration :

The "Gesetz über die Einreise und den Aufenthalt von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet (Ausländergesetz - AuslG)" (Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners on Federal Territory) of 9th July 1990 is the basic text. Main implementing provisions are the "Verordnung zur Durchführung des Ausländergesetztes (Durchführungsverordnung Ausländergesetz - DVAuslG)" (Regulation Implementing the Aliens Act) of 18th December 1990 and the "Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zum Ausländergesetz (Ausländergesetz-Verwaltungsvorschrift - AuslG-VwV)" (General Administrative Provision to the Aliens Act) of 6 October 2000, first part, second part.

Special rules apply to EU nationals which are laid down in the "Gesetz über die Einreise und den Aufenthalt von Staatsangehörigen der Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (AufenthaltsG/EWG)) (Law on Entry and Residence of Nationals of the Member States of the European Economic Community) of 22nd June 1969.

Asylum :

The basic provision is article 16 a of the "Grundgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (basic law of the Federal Republic of Germany) of 23rd May 1949.

The "Asylverfahrensgesetz" (Asylum Procedure Code) of 26th June 1992 lays down the special rules of procedure applying to recognition of asylum.

The "Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz" (Federal Statute on Asylum Seeker's Social benefits) of 5 August 1997 lays down the entitlement to benefits of asylum applicants.

Asylum and alien law is published in "Asyl- und Ausländerrecht" (Asylum and Alien Law), Verlag C.H.Beck, München, 15th edition 2001. The main asylum and alien law instruments in force can also be found in the loose-leaf collection of public law "Sartorius I - Verfassungs- und Verwaltungsgesetze der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (Sartorius I - Constitutional and Administrative Laws of the Federal Republic of Germany), C.H.Beck, München.

German aliens law has been substantially redrafted. The "Gesetz zur Steuerung und Begrenzung der Zuwanderung und zur Regelung des Aufenthalts und der Integration von Unionsbürgern und Ausländern in Deutschland" ( Act to Control and Restrict Immigration and to Regulate the Residence and Integration of EU Citizens and Foreigners (Immigration Act)) of 20 June 2002 was adopted by the Deutscher Bundestag followed by a controversial consent by the Bundesrat. It will be subject to control of its constitutionality before the Bundesverfassungsgericht.It was essentially based on the "Bericht der unabhängigen Sachverständigenkommission "Zuwanderung" (Report by the independent expert commission on migration) adopted by the unabhängige Sachverständigenkommission "Zuwanderung" (independent expert commission on migration) on 4th July 2001, which was instituted by a decision of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and presided over by the former head of the German Bundestag, Rita Süssmuth. However, in December 2002 the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) nullified the Immigration Act for formal reasons. In May 2003, the bill was introduced again by the governing coalition formed by Social Democrats and the Green Party. It was refused by the Bundesrat, Germany's upper parliamentary chamber, where the opposition holds the majority. The Immigration Act will now be discussed at the conciliation committee between both chambers of the Parliament.