This revelation came as the number of asylum applications from Turkish citizens in European countries witnessed a sharp surge. Meyer-Landrut identified economic challenges as a key driving force, with visa holders arriving in Germany exhibiting a greater inclination to seek asylum.
Even Erasmus students are resorting to filing asylum applications after their visa expiration, European Union’s Ambassador to Turkey Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut disclosed.
Erasmus or the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students is the EU’s flagship program to support education, training, youth, and sport in Europe.
This revelation came as the number of asylum applications from Turkish citizens in European countries witnessed a sharp surge.
Meyer-Landrut identified economic challenges as a key driving force, with visa holders arriving in Germany exhibiting a greater inclination to seek asylum.
He explained that once a person obtains a visa and enters Germany, the likelihood of seeking asylum significantly increases.
Last year, the Ministry of Education in Turkey received information indicating an increased number of students and teachers participating in the Erasmus program seeking asylum in their host countries, according to a report by Sozcu news.
Additionally, several students highlighted the reduction in support received from the program, with some claiming to have received no financial assistance for three months.
The Ministry of Education advised local authorities in Turkey to exercise caution when accepting requests, particularly if there is a risk that individuals may attempt to remain abroad.
However, Landrut clarified that there is no specific visa restriction policy in place for Turkish citizens. He deemed it impossible to comment on individual visa applicants’ experiences but noted that the number of asylum requests from Turkey exceeded 778,000 last year, constituting the highest number of applications to Europe from a single country.
Moreover, Landrut revealed that the rejection rate for asylum applications decreased for the first time since 2016 and remained below the global average. It is worth noting that applications made from Turkey by non-Turkish citizens experienced a higher rejection rate.
Regarding the present year, he acknowledged the absence of available data. Landrut said that embassies reassured him that no special restrictions had been imposed on Turkish citizens, and rejection rates remained consistent with previous years.
He also disclosed that last year witnessed a significant increase in asylum requests from Turkish citizens, placing them third after Syrians and Afghan citizens.
The Erasmus program allows students to spend up to 12 months abroad, with the opportunity to participate multiple times. The program encompasses all EU member states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey.
In October of last year, the European Union earmarked €384 million ($419.65 million) for the Erasmus+ program, aiming to support European University Alliances.
