Expert Opinion: Possible Conflict Between EU Law and Benefit Exclusion for Asylum Seekers
Experten sehen einen potenziellen Rechtskonflikt zwischen deutschem Asylrecht und EU-Recht, da der vollständige Leistungsausschluss für Asylbewerber mit EU-Vorgaben kollidieren könnte. Ein jüngstes EuGH-Urteil und die Forderung nach einem garantierten Lebensstandard verlangen nach individueller Fallprüfung. Das deutsche Recht würde mit seinem pauschalen Ausschluss die neuen EU-Richtlinien überschreiten.
Experts warn of a possible conflict between current EU law and the current practices regarding the exclusion of benefits for asylum seekers awaiting Dublin procedures. At the heart of the discussion is whether the complete exclusion of benefits for this group is compatible with EU law requirements, particularly concerning the necessity of an individual review of a minimum living standard.
Specifically, it is criticized that the benefit exclusion under § 1 para. 4 sentence 1 no. 2 of the Asylum Act could potentially contradict EU law. According to experts, this possible conflict also extends to the provisions of the new GEAS Reception Directive. The legal basis for these concerns is reinforced by a recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which found previous benefit cuts incompatible with EU law. Furthermore, it is highlighted that German law, with its blanket exclusion of all benefits, exceeds the provisions of the new directive because EU law fundamentally requires the maintenance of a guaranteed standard of living, which necessarily demands an individual case review.