Today, the Federal Government and Kyrgyzstan signed a declaration of intent to establish a comprehensive cooperation on migration matters. The declaration was signed on the margins of the summit meeting between Germany and the heads of Central Asian states in Berlin. For the German side, the agreement was signed by the Federal Government Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements Dr Joachim Stamp, and for the Kyrgyz side by Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheenbek Kulubaev.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said: “I am delighted about today’s signing of the declaration of intent for a migration agreement with Kyrgyzstan. Migration agreements are instrumental in managing and controlling migration. We urgently need immigration of skilled workers to remain a prosperous nation. At the same time, we also agreed that Kyrgyzstan is obligated to readmit its nationals who have no right to stay in Germany.”

Special Commissioner Dr Joachim Stamp: “With Uzbekistan and now also with Kyrgyzstan as two potential partners in Central Asia, we have embarked on a good path towards opening up possibilities for legal migration which we so urgently need for the German labour market. Not only our two countries stand to benefit from this, but also hard-working, qualified young people. On the other hand, however, we will also insist on clear rules for the return of persons with no right to stay.”

In view of Germany’s need for skilled workers, the intended migration agreement aims to open up further opportunities for legal labour migration to Germany and will also obligate Kyrgyzstan to readmit its nationals who have no legal right to stay in Germany. The declaration of intent was prepared during a visit by Joachim Stamp in Kyrgyzstan in early August 2023.

The Federal Government is holding talks also with the Republic of Uzbekistan on comprehensive migration cooperation. A German-Uzbek working group on migration held their kick-off-meeting last Wednesday. A declaration of intent on this matter was signed with the Republic of Uzbekistan already on 2 May 2023.