The post of Federal Government Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements was established in 2023 and assigned to the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. Dr Joachim Stamp became the first holder of this post on 1 February 2023.  

Germany’s governing coalition partners made it their goal to reshape the country’s migration policy by reducing irregular migration and facilitating regular migration. With this goal in mind, the coalition agreement for the electoral term 2021–2025 specified the appointment of a Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements.  

The Special Commissioner’s task is to draw up practical cooperative agreements with key countries of origin, taking into account human rights standards. These agreements will not only focus on returning rejected asylum seekers but will also look at enhanced economic cooperation, technology transfer, visa facilitation, the development of training programmes tailored to the German labour market, and the creation of job listings. 

The Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements will thus provide important new ideas for shaping the external dimensions of migration policy. In doing so, he will closely coordinate with the federal ministries concerned.

Dr Joachim Stamp studied political science, philosophy and religion in Bonn. In 2011, he obtained a doctorate in political science from Potsdam University. From 2017 to 2022, he served as Minister for Children, Families, Refugees and Integration and as Deputy Minister-President of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.