To agree is not to merge yet: Berlin and Tashkent signed a migration deal

Germany and Uzbekistan today signed in Samarkand Agreement on labor migration and mobility. This is reported by Bloomberg.

In addition, the parties concluded a number of agreements aimed at deepening cooperation in such areas as critical raw materials and combating climate change.

"We bring handymen and skilled workers to our country, which we urgently need in manufacturing, small-scale trade, nursing and many other areas. Anyone who has no prospects and the right to stay in Germany will have to leave our country much faster," Interior Minister Nancy Feather told the Rheinische Post on Sunday.

It is noted that Germany signed a similar agreement with Kenya on Friday during the visit of its President William Ruto. According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, this opens up opportunities for Kenyans, as skilled workers or young people can come to Germany to study.

"The agreement — and this is, in fact, the flip side of the coin — also provides for effective procedures for the return of those who came to us from Kenya, but does not have or cannot acquire the right to stay," the Chancellor said at a joint press conference with Ruto at the chancellery in Berlin.

In recent months, Scholz's government has toughened its stance on migration in response to the rise of extremist left- and right-wing parties that want to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the country.

On Monday, Scholz is due to hold talks in Astana with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the two countries will also sign a number of agreements.