Germany hopes for EU deal on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, minister says - Reuters

Germany hopes for EU deal on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, minister says - Reuters

Germany's interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has expressed hope for a European Union-wide agreement on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, according to Reuters [1]. This move is part of the country's effort to control immigration levels, which have been a significant political issue in recent years.

The proposal comes amid a national election victory for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, who campaigned on reducing immigration. Despite a decline in numbers over the past year, the issue remains contentious, with opinion polls indicating that many voters see immigration as being out of control.

Dobrindt emphasized the need for a Europe-wide consensus on the approach of using third countries to accommodate migrants who cannot return to their home countries. He stated that individual EU member states cannot implement this model independently and that it must be an EU-wide effort.

Earlier this month, the EU's executive commission proposed a scheme that would allow member states to reject asylum applications from migrants who passed through a "safe" third country on their way to the bloc. However, this proposal has faced criticism from rights groups and has yet to be adopted by national governments or the European Parliament.

Germany's plan to introduce more systematic land border checks for six months on people arriving by bus, train, or car from Schengen zone neighbors has sparked controversy. This move, which was announced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, aims to enhance border protection and deal with security threats. The plan has drawn criticism from neighboring countries, including Poland and Austria, which have expressed concerns about the potential economic impact and the treatment of rejected asylum seekers.

The German government's intention is to turn more people away and reduce irregular migration. However, experts warn that this could lead to a backlog of people stranded at borders and potentially set off a chain reaction among other EU member states. The move is seen as a response to security-related anxieties among voters rather than an effective answer to the security threats cited by the government.

Germany's stance on immigration has shifted significantly since the 2015 European migrant crisis, when the country largely opened its borders to refugees. The current policy reflects a broader trend in Europe, where countries are becoming more stringent with immigration controls.

References:
[1] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L6N3S20L3:0-germany-hopes-for-eu-deal-on-sending-failed-asylum-seekers-to-third-countries-minister-says/