EU country to pay migrants thousands in last ditch bid to stop them coming

Afghan refugees board a military plane for Germany (Image: Getty)

Germany is trying to get out of its commitment to resettle Afghan asylum seekers by paying them thousands of euros not to come. The previous SDP government had granted the Afghan refugees the right to move to Germany.

Most of them are currently in Pakistan, having fled their home country after the Taliban retook power in 2021. Under the scheme, over 45,000 Afghans have already been relocated to Germany, including former local staff of the Bundeswehr (German army). However, the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sought to crackdown on immigration.

Friedrich Merz's government is cracking down on immigration (Image: Getty)

As part of the new tougher stance towards migration, the conservative-led government suspended its previous visa commitments in the summer.

This left some 2,300 people stranded in Pakistan, who had been getting ready to move to Germany. Now Berlin is going one step further and offering the Afghans money to return home to their country.

The German Interior Ministry is reportedly sending letters to the stranded Afghans, promising them €10,000 as a "starter bonus" not to come.

In addition, they are being offered a €2,500 one-off payment to facilitate their emigration from Pakistan, according to the German newspaper Die Welt.

A family of four were allegedly offered a €2,750 instant payment and €11,500 upon their arrival in Afghanistan.

Germany's Interior Ministry confirmed it was trying to dissuade Afghans from travelling on to Germany with cash inducements.

"There are offers within the framework of a voluntary return programme to Afghanistan or departure to another third country," a statement said.

“The aim is to give prospects to people who cannot expect to be accepted in Germany.”

Afghan refugees have contested the government's decision to freeze the granting of visas. And German courts have repeatedly ruled in favour of the Afghans, ordering Berlin to resettle them in the country.

Since the new government came to power in May, there have been four flights in which 110 Afghans were transported to Germany.