Merz and Frederiksen Unite, Yet Migration Challenges Persist
Pre-order Buyer Secures Design - However, the Situation is Complex
By Hubertus Volmer
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link **German Chancellor Merz admires Denmark as a "migrant policy trailblazer." For years, he's championed this sentiment.
During Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen's recent visit to Berlin, Merz admitted that Germany's migrant policy landscape is more intricate than Denmark's.
Frederiksen, favored by German conservatives, earned Merz's admiration during the Munich Security Conference. He praised her for her stance on Russia while also expressing relief about her approach to migrant policy.
Merz encouraged Scholz, previous Chancellor, to invite Frederiksen to Berlin due to Denmark's long-standing success in managing migrant numbers. Despite Denmark's significant refugee population due to the Russian war in Ukraine, asylum seekers have been few for years.
Now, Merz invites Frederiksen himself to Berlin, a reunion from their initial January encounter. Again, discussions centered on Trump's Greenland claim, the European threat from Russia, and the Russian fleet's presence in the Baltic Sea.
But this time, migration policy became a significant topic as well. "Denmark has served as a paradigm for migrant policy for quite some time," Merz asserted at their joint press conference. He suggested that the new German government, too, aims to devise stricter asylum rules within the EU.
Frederiksen reciprocated with praise, noting Merz's "early bird" approach in shaping Europe. She appreciated the "German leadership" aiming to strengthen Europe, an objective she supports.
However, Migration Issues Remain a Concern
Frederiksen, whose country assumes the EU Council presidency on July 1, expressed concern over the persisting migration challenges. "Citizens in many European countries, including Germany and Denmark, have voiced worries for years," she said. She was enthusiastic about collaborating with the new German Chancellor to discover solutions reducing European arrivals and streamlining "effective returns." "To preserve our societies' social cohesion, we cannot accept everyone who desires to join Europe," Frederiksen offered.
Denmark's stringent migrant policy, known for its mix of firmness and symbolism, makes it a role model for Merz. For instance, refugee accommodations are called "departure centers," and in 2019, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture found conditions in Ellebæk's departure center to be similar to Russian prison conditions.
Yet, Denmark's Migrant Policy Translation to Germany Poses Obstacles
Germany and Denmark's distinctive migrant policies stem from legal and practical hurdles. Danish territorial borders, just under 70 kilometers with Germany, are easier to manage compared to Germany's over 2,000 kilometers with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
Further, Denmark's secured "opt-outs" enable it to bypass specific European laws, granting it more freedom than other EU countries. European Union asylum processing alignment presents another challenge as Germany must comply with the rules it seeks to impose.
The Immigration Dilemma: Balancing Influence and Fairness
Migration expert Raphael Bossong highlights the federal government's dilemma regarding pressure exertion on neighboring countries and EU compliance in an interview with ntv.de. He explains that, while Germany seeks to increase border controls to put pressure on neighboring states, it has also advocated for EU law tightening and broader cooperation. This leaves the federal government in a predicament, as it must also conform to the laws it promotes.
Merz refrained from mentioning this predicament in his discussion with Frederiksen. Instead, he endorsed their joint initiative with Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands for asylum procedures in third countries. He even commended the preceding federal government for moving in the right direction: "The numbers are decreasing, but we're still far from our goal."
Sources:
- ntv.de
- SchengenVisaInfo
- Politico
- Reuters
- AmnestyInternational
- Danish Migrant Policy
- German Migrant Policy
- Friedrich Merz
- Mette Frederiksen
- Migration
- Immigration policy
- Migrant deterrence
- European Union
- Externalized asylum processing
- Asylum rules
Additional Insights:
Denmark's migrant policies have led to stricter family reunification rules, with foreign spouses being required to be at least 24 years old and have stronger ties to Denmark. Denmark has also advocated for a reinterpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights to facilitate easier expulsion of migrants who commit crimes.
Germany's shift towards stricter policies resembles Denmark's model, focusing on stricter asylum rules and potentially aligning with EU-wide efforts to control migration more effectively.
- The German Chancellor, Merz, acknowledges Denmark's policy-and-legislations regarding migration as an exemplary model that should be considered for the new German government's employment policies, particularly in devising stricter asylum rules within the EU, aligning with Denmark's general-news approach.
- Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, points out that despite Denmark's accomplishment in managing migrant numbers, migration challenges persist across various European countries, including Germany, necessitating collaboration between the two countries to devise solutions for reducing European arrivals and streamlining effective returns, as part of the crime-and-justice discourse.
- The migration issues, however, pose significant obstacles in translating Denmark's employment policy approaches to Germany due to legal and practical hurdles, politics, and policy-and-legislation differences, as seen in the contrast between Denmark's territorial borders with Germany and other European countries, as well as Denmark's opt-outs that bypass specific European laws.
