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Executive Summary for March 29th

We review the latest issues related to refugees, including the expansion of a European ‘education passport’ for refugees, German plans for its first migrant repatriation center and an investigation into Hungary giving residency to a Syrian under U.S. sanctions.

Published on March 29, 2018 Read time Approx. 2 minutes

Refugee Education Passport Expands Across Europe

The Council of Europe is rolling out the refugee “education passport” to more European countries to help refugees prove their qualifications to universities and employers.

The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees was piloted in Greece last year, with the U.N. refugee agency and partners in Norway, Britain and Italy. The next phase will see Armenia, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands taking part.

The passport documents refugees’ education level, work experience and language proficiency in a format designed to be recognized across different countries.

Germany Plans First Migrant Repatriation Center

Germany plans to open its first repatriation center for migrants and rejected asylum seekers later this year.

State Secretary Stephan Mayer said establishing the center was “a top priority” for the new German government. The government is examining converting migrant transit centers in Bavaria, a reception center in Hessen or former U.S. military bases, he said.

Mayer also wants to increase the number of detention places for rejected asylum seekers ahead of deportation, saying the 400 available is “clearly too low.”

Germany’s interior ministry this week said that in 2017 65,000 rejected asylum seekers could not be sent home due to lack of documents – an increase of 71 percent compared to a year earlier.

Investigation: Hungary Gave Residency to Syrian Under U.S. Sanctions

Hungary’s anti-migrant government gave residency status to a Syrian man who is under U.S. sanctions for helping President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Hungarian investigative journalists revealed.

Atiya Khoury received residency in Hungary under its 2013–2017 “golden visa scheme,” which offers temporary residency to foreigners who buy a Hungarian bond for up to 300,000 euros ($369,000), Direkt36 and 444.hu investigative portals reported.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Khoury’s company moved cash between Syria, Lebanon and Russia and paid for fuel procurement for the Assad regime for a commission.

By contrast, Hungary has led European opposition to accepting refugees, including Syrians. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has further ratcheted up anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric ahead of April elections.

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