Contributor

Veysel Özcan

Contributor

Veysel Oezcan studied social sciences in Mannheim, Amsterdam and at the Humboldt University, Berlin. Since 1999, he has been a member of the editorial staff of the newsletter "Migration und Bevölkerung.“

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Germany: Immigration in Transition

Germany passed a 2004 immigration law expanding integration and asylum rules but scrapped a points-based system for skilled worker recruitment.

EU Sees Sharp Drop in Asylum Applications

EU asylum applications fell 22 percent in 2003 to the lowest since 1995, led by drops from Iraq and Afghanistan, while applications rose in the ten acceding states.

Fewer Ethnic Germans Immigrating to Ancestral Homeland

Ethnic German immigration to Germany dropped to 72,000 in 2003, with a continued decline expected as support programs in Aussiedlers' countries abroad strengthen their will to stay.

Austria Adopts More Restrictive Asylum Law

Austria's October 2003 asylum law allows 72-hour processing and deportation during appeals, drawing criticism from groups including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Germany's High Court Allows Teacher to Wear Muslim Headscarf

Germany's top court ruled in September 2003 that no law barred a Muslim teacher's headscarf, leaving the 16 states to decide individually, with seven planning bans.

Swiss Court Halts Local Plebiscites on Naturalization

Switzerland's Federal Court ruled in 2003 that local plebiscites on naturalization violate applicants' rights to know rejection reasons and be free from discrimination.

Changes to German Law Help Boost Naturalization Numbers

Germany's 2000 citizenship reforms reducing residency requirements led to higher annual naturalizations.

Germany Weighs Biometric Registration Options for Visa Applicants

Germany began piloting fingerprinting, facial recognition, and iris scanning for long-term visa applicants in 2003, driven by post-September 11 security concerns.

EU States Reach Landmark Agreement on Family Reunification Rules

In February 2003, EU interior ministers agreed on minimum standards for third-country nationals' family reunification rights; the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark opted out.

Gender, Religion, and Secularism Meet in Germany's Headscarf Battle

A January 2003 German court let a dismissed Muslim teacher return wearing a headscarf, as a constitutional dispute over the issue advances to Germany's Federal Constitutional Court.