No More Welcome Mat: A Closer Look at Germany's New Asylum Policies
New guidelines at border crossings: Insights and implications
When it comes to migration, the political landscape has been a hot topic in Germany. The recent election saw Friedrich Merz, a potential new Chancellor, promising to close Germany's borders to unauthorized entrants, regardless of their grounds for protection. Carrying through on his word, Alexander Dobrindt, the new Interior Minister, has enacted a series of strict asylum policies. So, what exactly does this mean for border control? Let's dive deeper.
Border Patrol, Reinforced
Although comprehensive control of the borders won't be enforced, more federal police officers will be stationed at land borders in the coming weeks. The aim is to balance the need for order with humanity. Pregnant women and children are among those who will not be rejected.
The New Gatekeeping Rules
Not every asylum seeker encountered by the federal police at the border will be outright rejected. However, the mere fact that someone files an asylum application will no longer automatically prevent rejection in the future. This change of policy has its critics, but Dobrindt maintains that striking a balance between "humanity and order" is the goal.
The Politics Behind the New Rules
Before the elections, Friedrich Merz stated that, as Chancellor, he would permanently control all borders and reject all illegal entries. According to Merz, EU asylum rules are dysfunctional, and Germany needs to prioritize national law. The EU does allow temporary border controls within the Schengen area, but permanent rejections at the borders are a new step.
Coordinated Efforts to Combat Illegal Migration
The new coalition agreement states that Germany will work closely with its European neighbors to conduct rejections at common borders, even in the case of asylum applications. In 2021, around 229,751 people filed a first-time asylum application in Germany, around 100,000 fewer than the previous year.
A Past Record of Rejections
Although rejections at the border are not entirely new, stationary border controls are a prerequisite for such rejections. People with a re-entry ban have already been rejected in the past, as well as those without a visa who do not file an asylum application.
The Personnel Issue
Opinions on whether there's enough personnel for permanent border controls are divided. More controls might tie up more officers, but turning someone back takes less time than accompanying them to the initial reception facility. Proponents of the new rules hope that they will have a deterrent effect, reducing the number of people who come illegally.
The European Impact
Some experts are concerned that Germany's unilateral rejections could undermine trust between EU countries, potentially jeopardizing the painstakingly achieved agreement on a common European asylum policy. However, others believe that, with growing interest in stricter migration control across the EU, many governments might support a harder line on asylum seekers.
Legal Grounds and Uncertainty
The legal situation regarding rejections at the border is currently unclear. Some experts interpret current EU law as not allowing rejections in principle, while the European Court of Justice may rule otherwise. Final decisions lie with the ECJ, and its previous rulings have been quite restrictive in applying exceptions.
A Shift from Merkel's Policy
This new policy represents a clear shift from the refugee policy of former Chancellor Merkel, who famously decided that asylum seekers stranded in Hungary could continue their journey to Germany in 2015. The new measures aim to discourage secondary movement within the EU, pushing responsibility to frontline states and enforcing the Dublin Regulation.
Sources
- ntv.de
- gut/dpa
Related Terms
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Migration
- Immigration
- Asylum Policy
- Border Rejections
- Federal Government
- Friedrich Merz
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- The strict asylum policies instituted by Alexander Dobrindt, Germany's new Interior Minister, have initiated a shift from the previous asylum policy under former Chancellor Merkel, reflecting a harder stance on border control and immigration.
- The new asylum policies aim to balance order and humanity, with more federal police officers to be stationed at land borders in the near future, while pregnant women and children are excluded from rejection.
- Critics of the new policies argue that the mere act of filing an asylum application will no longer automatically prevent rejection in the future, a change of policy thatpotentially undermines the rights of asylum seekers.
- As part of the new coalition agreement, Germany plans to work closely with its European neighbors to conduct rejections at common borders and enforce the Dublin Regulation, which aims to push responsibility to frontline states and discourage secondary movement within the EU.
