Chatting with Markus Lanz: Thym on Asylum Policy Debate
Proposal Advances to Boost Asylum Seekers within EU Borders
Get ready for an enlightening discussion on migration policy, as Markus Lanz invites guests to the hot seat. This time around, he'll be chatting with Saarländische Ministerpräsidentin Anke Rehlinger from the SPD.
With the SPD trying to recover from a less-than-stellar election performance, a contentious topic has arisen. Some party members published a "manifesto" on Tuesday, advocating for a foreign and security policy overhaul, increased talks with Russia, and a critique of NATO's five-percent defense target. Yet, this comes just two weeks before the NATO summit and the SPD's federal party conference, where the party aims to renew its leadership. SPD faction leader Matthias Miersch calls the "manifesto" an intriguing discussion starter, while SPD interior policy spokesman Alexander Fiedler describes it as a surprising, concerning, and frustrating development.
Controversy over Russia diplomacy
Rehlinger, Markus Lanz's guest, acknowledges mixed feelings about the SPD left's paper. The dispute within the party has been ongoing, she says. While she understands the positions taken by Rolf Mützenich and Ralf Stegner, she advocates a more robust defense capacity for Germany and caution when engaging with Russia. "Cooperating with Putin's Russia isn't a viable approach right now, given President Putin's aggressive actions," Rehlinger stated. She went on to say that to work together, another party is needed, and she doesn't see Putin being open to collaboration.
Border Policy Debate
"I won't be shocked if a similar dispute surfaces in migration policy," predicts Daniel Thym, a migration law expert from the University of Constance. Thym is the director of their research center for foreign and asylum law.
Although the topic doesn't initially arise during the show, there is much to delve into regarding border controls and asylum policies. Rehlinger sympathizes with interior minister Dobrindt's stance on stricter border controls. While tighter controls may cause temporary traffic congestion at the Luxembourg border, Rehlinger proposes joint patrols in a border corridor to avoid these issues and improve detection capabilities. Current border policies could be improvements for future use, particularly if implementing the European border system, which involves stricter external EU border controls.
Raum für Neuerung in der Asylpolitik
Thym acknowledges that border controls alone may not prove successful. He advocates for further government action, stating that the current measures are merely a temporary measure. According to Thym, the government must address the long-term challenges facing integration—specifically in the labor market, education system, and housing market—if they wish to bring about a lasting change in asylum policy. He stresses the importance of maintaining a balanced approach, balancing respect for human rights with efficient border controls.
The Berlin ruling has caused complications for the government's recent actions at the borders, as some asylum seekers' rejections have been declared unlawful by the administrative court there. Despite these legal issues, Thym believes there's still a chance (20-40%) that courts may accept the government's approach at the borders, at least for some time, if a suitable justification is provided for the crisis.
Sources:1. "Asylum Policy Issues and Challenges in Germany" by Bundespolizei (Federal Police).2. "German Court Rules Asylum Seeker Rejections at Borders Unlawful" by Deutsche Welle.3. "Berlin Ruling invalidates border rejections for asylum seekers" by The Local Germany.4. "Chancellor Merz's government plans to tighten asylum policies" by Focus.5. "Legal Challenges face Germany's border control measures" by Spiegel Online.
- "Daniel Thym, a migration law expert, predicts a potential dispute in community policy, particularly in asylum policy, mirroring the ongoing politics within the SPD."
- "Thym advocates for a comprehensive approach to employment policies in dealing with long-term challenges facing integration, emphasizing the labor market, education system, and housing market."
