Revamping Borders: Merz Firmly Denies Instigation of "National Emergency"
Migration update: Merz-Representative refutes declaration of "national crisis" - Immigration Situation: Spokesperson for Merz Debunks Claims of Declaring a "National Crisis"
Forget the chit-chat, let's dive right in!
Germany's internal security and border control strategies have been under a hot spotlight as the European Union (EU) laws allow deviations to "Preserve Public Order and Safeguard Internal Security" - a clause that's become quite the talk. Parties like the CDU and CSU have been advocating for this exception to enable extensive repatriations of asylum seekers.
However, the number of asylum seekers has drastically decreased, and the previous Federal Government has maintained that the prerequisites for employing the exception clause remain unmet.
Wednesday saw Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) announcing toughened border controls to stem the tide of refugees, involving additional federal police deployment and repatriation of asylum seekers, mostly. This move sparked heated debate from neighboring Poland and Switzerland.
On the following day, the Federal Ministry of the Interior apprised ambassadors of neighboring states on these measures, as Dobrindt's department made the announcement late on X. They were briefed regarding the measures to ramp up existing internal border controls. A state secretary emphasized the continuation of cooperative relations and close collaboration.
Although the coalition agreement between Union and SPD supports repatriating asylum seekers, they insist on doing so cooperatively with European neighbors.
The Nitty-Gritty
The EU legislation on handling this exception clause in the context of migrants predominantly falls under the EU's asylum and migration policies, such as the Dublin Regulation and the Schengen Borders Code. These laws empower member states to enact measures preserving public order and internal security, including repatriation policies.
- Dublin Regulation: This regulation stipulates the criteria and procedures for assigning responsible EU member states for examining asylum applications. It emphasizes that asylum seekers should submit their applications in the first EU country they enter - a crucial aspect in Germany's initiative to stem asylum applications by bolstering border controls and adhering to EU rules.
- Schengen Borders Code: This code prescribes guidelines for managing external borders, including the conditions for member states to reinstate border controls for safeguarding internal security and preserving public order.
Under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Germany has meatier plans for maintaining national security and order through stern migration policies. Key components include robust border controls, quicker asylum application processing, and increased deportations for rejected asylum seekers and those with severe criminal records[3][4].
In the Spotlight
- Tightened Border Controls: Gone are the days of the 2015 instruction that permits undocumented immigrants entry on compassionate grounds. The intention is to minimize asylum applications and uphold the EU rule requiring submissions in the first country of entry[3].
- Repatriation and Departures: Germany plans to launch a repatriation offensive to expel migrants who do not qualify for residency or have committed heinous crimes. This aligns with EU laws authorizing deportations for preserving public order and security[4][5].
- Voluntary Return Programs: Operations like REAG/GARP and EURP assist migrants in returning to their homelands voluntarily or settling in a third country, which is part of the broader EU strategy for managing migration[2].
These policies epitomize Germany's dedication to EU law compliance and its endeavor to reconcile migration management with national security concerns.
- The community policy, as advocated by parties like the CDU and CSU, seeks deviations from EU laws to enable extensive repatriations of asylum seekers, citing the clause "Preserve Public Order and Safeguard Internal Security" for justification.
- The reiterated stance of the Federal Government maintains that the prerequisites for employing the exception clause remain unmet, despite a decrease in the number of asylum seekers.
- The general-news, (such as the announcement by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt), sparked heated debate from neighboring countries like Poland and Switzerland.
- In line with the coalition agreement between Union and SPD, tougher employment policies are being employed cooperatively with European neighbors, to ensure the repatriation of asylum seekers, in accordance with the Dublin Regulation and the Schengen Borders Code.
