In February 2003, 3,728 applications for immigration to Germany were submitted, which is 30% fewer than in February 2002. Last year, the number of resettlers who arrived in Germany was the lowest since German reunification - 67,000 people.
Jochen Welt explained this fact by the policy of the federal government, which has set new priorities in providing support to German minorities in Eastern European countries. Now, instead of large unprofitable projects, German aid is directed to targeted measures. Thus, concludes the federal government's Commissioner for Resettler Affairs, the success of this policy has led to the fact that among representatives of German minorities there are more people wishing to remain in their current countries of residence and not move to Germany.