Neighbours' Consensus is Supported by Söder in Asylum Dispute Controversy
Headline: "Söder’s Confidence: Neighbors Will Accept Germany's Tougher Border Policies"
Writing Style: Relaxed, conversational, and straightforward
Enrichment Integration: Around <15%
Article:
Tensions are running high as Germany strengthens its border controls, turning away asylum seekers at the request of Interior Minister Dobrindt. But Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder isn't worried about resistance from neighboring countries. He's got faith that they'll eventually come on board.
"I reckon our European neighbors will swallow it," Söder told "Bild am Sonntag." He's already planning talks with the partners to discuss the finer points of the Federal Republic's new approach.
Now, it's not just hot air from Söder. He's announced additional measures to curb illegal immigration. He promised more than just a starting shot: changes to citizenship laws, suspended flights from troubled Afghanistan, and beefed-up deportation procedures. The end goal? A fewer influx and a push for those already here to leave.
The Federal Police has been busy too. They've rejected asylum applications for 19 refugees in just two days, as reported by "Bild am Sonntag." Despite this, they recorded 365 illegal entries during that period. The main reasons for rejection? A lack of visas, forged documents, and entry bans. Additionally, 14 smugglers were arrested, 48 arrest warrants were executed, and nine extremist or Islamist individuals were caught at the border.
Since mid-week, the Federal Police has been following Dobrindt's instruction to also reject asylum seekers at border controls. The only exceptions: pregnant women, the sick, and unaccompanied minors. The director of the Police Trade Union, Andreas Roßkopf, confirmed that the Federal Interior Minister's instruction is binding for border officers. The legal responsibility for the measures lies "solely with the Federal Ministry of the Interior."
However, while Söder remains optimistic about neighboring countries' reactions, some critics have been vocal about the broader policy. Neighboring countries and refugee advocates have expressed concerns about its potential impact on regional migration dynamics and the treatment of asylum seekers.
In the broader EU context, the Asylum and Migration Pact is also working towards more effective asylum management, including a mandatory border procedure as of June 2026 for certain categories of asylum seekers. This aims to swiftly assess applications at the EU’s external borders to determine their validity.
Sources: ntv.de, mau/rts
- Markus Söder
- Germany
- Europe
- Asylum policy
- Asylum seekers
- Federal Police
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Afghanistan
- Deportation
- Engaging in a casual chat, Markus Söder, the Bavarian Minister-President, expresses confidence that European neighbors will eventually accept Germany's tougher border policies, including a change in asylum policy, stating, "I reckon our European neighbors will swallow it."
- In light of Germany's implementation of stricter border controls, Markus Söder is scheduled to hold discussions with neighboring countries to iron out the details of the Federal Republic's new approach to employment policy, which includes changes to citizenship laws and suspended flights from Afghanistan.
- The Federal Police, under the instruction of Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, has recently rejected asylum applications for 19 refugees, primarily due to lack of visas, forged documents, and entry bans, while also arresting 14 smugglers and 9 extremist or Islamist individuals.
- As the Asylum and Migration Pact progresses in the EU, it aims to implement a mandatory border procedure by June 2026 for certain categories of asylum seekers, focusing on swift assessments of applications at EU external borders to determine their validity, representing changes in employment policy.