The Federal Government and the Federal State of Brandenburg are going to strengthen their cooperation in transfers of Dublin cases of asylum seekers by creating a Dublin Centre in Eisenhuttenstadt on the premises of the Central Aliens Authority of the State of Brandenburg. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and Brandenburg's Minister of the Interior Katrin Lange signed an agreement to this effect on 17 February.
The Dublin Centre is scheduled to open on 1 March. This will be the second Dublin Centre in Germany to be established following the establishment of one in Hamburg earlier this month. The Dublin Centre in Brandenburg will focus on transfers to Poland.
In order to speed up the procedures, the Central Aliens Authority of the Federal State of Brandenburg will be closely involved in coordinating the details of the transfers with the competent authorities in Poland. Transfers should take place within two weeks. The Dublin Centre will comprise two buildings, including one for women travelling alone and for families, and another one for men travelling alone. The centre has a total capacity of up to 250 places and presumably there would be up to 150 people regularly staying at the Dublin Centre.
The agreement stipulates that every Dublin case is excluded from regular benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act once the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has issued a decision; only temporary benefits in kind would be possible.