Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and Germany have signed a migration agreement during the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Samarkand, reports the DPA agency.

According to the agency, the agreement aims to simplify the procedure for qualified specialists to enter Germany, particularly in the healthcare sector, and to facilitate the repatriation of Uzbeks who do not have the right to remain in Germany. Currently, there are 13,700 Uzbeks residing in Germany.

Such agreements with individual countries of migrant origin play a crucial role in Germany’s migration policy.

The magazine Der Spiegel reported that the German government plans to deport criminal migrants to Afghanistan through the migration agreement with Uzbekistan, avoiding direct negotiations with the Taliban movement.

The publication noted that preliminary negotiations began at the end of May. At that time, according to Der Spiegel, the Uzbek side was fundamentally ready for this. The German delegation was informed that Uzbekistan could handle the formalities with the Taliban, but first, a migration agreement needed to be concluded, the magazine emphasized.

According to the DPA, it is still unclear how this agreement will be implemented in practice and within what timeframe. It also addresses issues related to the transit of third-country nationals, although specific agreements on this matter are not yet in place.