Neighboring nations offer their critique on Dobrindt's proposed border modifications.
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On day one of the fresh government, Dobrindt drops a bombshell: tighter border controls and quicker rejections for refugees seeking asylum in Germany. Not everyone in the ol' neighborhood is thrilled with this move, as expected. However, there's a smattering of positive vibes too.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's idea is to beef up the German border with more federal cops to scramble from other countries. He broke the news the day after he took charge. The international community seems less than impressed. The echo of Merz's initial promise of "stepping ahead in agreement with our European pals" seems like a distant memory now.
The Swiss, good neighbors alright, are less than pleased with Germany's sudden shift. They've got a bone to pick: "Systematic border rejections are a no-no according to our law." The Swiss authorities will be keeping a close eye on this decision, ready to take action if necessary.
The friendly Alps are also keen on safeguarding their residents' right to work without fuss. The Swiss Department said, "We don't want traffic, whether it's people or goods, to be affected by these additional checks." Swiss Federal Councilor Beat Jans pointed out that a tête-à-tête between the responsible ministers from both countries would be great, but so far, no takers.
Politics EU Borders: Not Just a One-Man Show, Tusk Tells MerzThree cheers for Poland, who ain't much fond of Merz taking unilateral steps. The country has been investing big-time in protecting the EU's frontier, says Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the joint pressie with Merz. Tusk understands the need for beefed-up border controls, but suggests they should focus more on the external borders.
Austria and Czech Republic in Dobrindt's Corner
The Austrian government seems on board with Merz's and Dobrindt's plans, apparently ready for a close, trusty partner-ship with the new German government. "We're counting on productive collaboration to nail down international and sustainable wins, particularly in the areas of return and external border security," said the Austrian Interior Ministry. "We trust the German authorities to play by European law in all actions."
The Austrian Federal Police's approach will be adjusted to the current situation, it added. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has already chatted with Dobrindt over the weekend about the measures at the border.
Similarly, Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan has backed Dobrindt, having discussed border measures with him over the weekend. "The new measures won't cause any major problems for the Czech Republic or its citizens," Rakusan said. "We're already sending illegals back, and our transit migration with Germany is at a record low." Rakusan also voiced the need for rapid changes in asylum law.
Politics "Message to the World," Dobrindt Confirms Border Rejections for Asylum SeekersIf Dobrindt gets his way, the number of federal cops will increase, and they'll work some extra hours to keep the refugees at bay. According to Bild's scoop, these officers might be logging up to 12 hours daily. Dobrindt says not every refugee-ee will get an automatic pass. Although pregnant ladies and kids will still dodge deportation, mere asylum requests will no longer guarantee safe passage.
Source: ntv.de, mpa
- Refugees
- Refugee policy
- Migrants
- Immigration
- Germany
- Friedrich Merz
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Switzerland
- Poland
- Donald Tusk
- Czech Republic
- Austria
Enrichment Data:
Currently, detailed international reactions from Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic regarding Germany's new refugee policy under Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt are not widely reported in the available sources. However, it's plausible that these countries may have concerns or responses related to border security and migration policies within the European context.
- Switzerland could be concerned with cooperation to manage migration across shared borders.
- Poland and the Czech Republic, being part of the Visegrád Group, have traditionally been cautious regarding EU migration policies and might align with Germany's stance on tightening border controls.
To get the whole story, we'd need updates or statements from these countries' government officials or media.
- Switzerland has expressed displeasure with Germany's sudden shift towards systematic border rejections, as it contradicts their own laws.
- The Swiss Department has expressed concerns that additional checks at the German border could potentially affect the free flow of people and goods across their shared borders.
- Poland, while understanding the need for stricter border controls, has suggested focusing more on the external borders rather than unilateral actions.
- The Czech Republic, in support of Germany's new approach, voiced its readiness to handle any potential issues that might arise from the revised asylum policy, and has expressed the need for rapid changes in asylum law.
