The government’s proposals to reject asylum seekers at the German borders are not far-reaching enough, said Union negotiator Thorsten Frei on Tuesday in Berlin. Germany’s SPD Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had suggested, among other things, temporarily detaining certain refugees.
According to government sources on Tuesday, this procedure should be applied to those refugees who seek asylum in Germany, but whose asylum procedure is the responsibility of another EU member state. The German Federal Police should therefore check detention capacities and apply to the court for accommodation.
Measure is intended to prevent submersion
Table of Contents
- 1 Measure is intended to prevent submersion
- 2 “This approach is unacceptable”
- 3 Nehammer rejected CDU
- 4 What are the potential implications of Germany’s proposal to temporarily detain asylum seekers at its borders for EU member states?
- 5 Here are some People Also Ask (PAA) related questions for the title **”Germany’s Proposal to Temporarily Detain Asylum Seekers at its Borders: Implications and Criticism”**:
Table of Contents
According to a paper on measures, this measure is intended to prevent people from going into hiding and can be imposed because of the risk of them fleeing. To achieve this, sufficient detention places must be made available quickly near the border and along the migration routes, the paper states. The detention will then be provided until the refugee concerned is deported to the member state in which he or she first entered the EU in accordance with the Dublin rules.
In order to check which country is responsible, the German federal police at the border should primarily use the so-called EURODAC database. This is where the refugees’ fingerprints are stored. The federal police transmit the data to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), which then initiates the Dublin procedure at an accelerated pace, the paper continues. All proposed measures comply with EU law.
Representatives of the German federal government, the states and the Union met on Tuesday afternoon for the second round of their migration talks. The Union had previously made rejections at the border a condition for its participation. On Monday, Faeser ordered controls at all German borders and promised more rejections.
“This approach is unacceptable”
Meanwhile, Poland sharply criticized the plans for temporary controls at all German land borders. “This approach is unacceptable,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. The Schengen Agreement would thus be effectively suspended. “What Poland needs is not increased controls at our border, but greater involvement by countries like Germany in guarding and securing the EU’s external borders,” Tusk added, referring to the situation on his country’s border with Russia’s ally Belarus. The Prime Minister went on to say that in the coming hours his government would ask other countries affected by upcoming decisions from Berlin for urgent consultations about steps within the EU.
With his comments, Tusk also opposed the demands of the CDU, which, like Tusk’s party, belongs to the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) at the European level. CDU leader Friedrich Merz had only announced on Monday that he would seek talks with Tusk and other European EPP heads of government to convince them of the need for stricter security at Germany’s borders, including the rejection of refugees.
Nehammer rejected CDU
However, Austria – whose Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) also belongs to the EPP – had already rejected the CDU’s demands. “Austria will not accept any people who are rejected from Germany,” ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”. “There is no room for maneuver.” He had instructed the head of the Austrian Federal Police “not to carry out any takeovers”.
Since October 2023, there have already been stationary controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. These have been extended again and again and currently run until December 15. At the German-Austrian land border, such controls, which are justified by irregular migration, have been in place since September 2015. The newly ordered controls directly at the border affect the land borders with France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
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What are the potential implications of Germany’s proposal to temporarily detain asylum seekers at its borders for EU member states?
Rejecting Asylum Seekers at German Borders: A Controversial Proposal
Germany’s SPD Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has proposed temporarily detaining certain refugees at the country’s borders, sparking controversy among European leaders. The proposal aims to prevent asylum seekers from going into hiding and fleeing the country. According to government sources, this measure would be applied to those refugees whose asylum procedure is the responsibility of another EU member state [[1]].
The Rationale Behind the Proposal
The German Federal Police would check detention capacities and apply to the court for accommodation. The detention would be provided until the refugee concerned is deported to the member state in which they first entered the EU, in accordance with the Dublin rules [[1]]. This measure is intended to prevent people from going into hiding and can be imposed due to the risk of them fleeing. The proposal also ensures that sufficient detention places are made available quickly near the border and along the migration routes.
Criticism from European Neighbors
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk sharply criticized the plans for temporary controls at all German land borders, stating that it would effectively suspend the Schengen Agreement. Tusk argued that Poland needs greater involvement from countries like Germany in guarding and securing the EU’s external borders, rather than increased controls at its own border [[2]].
Austria’s Stance
Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) also rejected the CDU’s demands, stating that Austria will not accept any people who are rejected from Germany. ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner instructed the head of the Austrian Federal Police not to carry out any takeovers [[3]].
Background on Asylum Applications in Germany
Germany has seen a significant increase in asylum applications, with 352,000 people seeking asylum in 2023, a 51% rise from the previous year [[2]]. The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) provides information on the stages of the asylum procedure, the right to asylum, and various forms of protection [[3]].
Conclusion
The proposal to reject asylum seekers at German borders has sparked controversy among European leaders, with some criticizing the move as unacceptable and others rejecting the demands. The debate highlights the complexities of asylum and refugee policy in Germany and the need for cooperation among EU member states to address the issue.
References:
Germany’s Proposal to Temporarily Detain Asylum Seekers at its Borders: Implications and Criticism
Germany’s government has proposed a measure to temporarily detain asylum seekers at its borders, sparking controversy and criticism from neighboring countries and human rights organizations. The proposal, announced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, aims to prevent asylum seekers from going into hiding and to expedite the deportation process to the EU member state responsible for their asylum procedure.
The Proposal: Temporarily Detaining Asylum Seekers
According to the proposal, asylum seekers who apply for asylum in Germany but whose asylum procedure is the responsibility of another EU member state will be temporarily detained at the border. The German Federal Police will check detention capacities and apply to the court for accommodation. The detention will be provided until the refugee concerned is deported to the member state in which they first entered the EU, in accordance with the Dublin rules [1[1].
Criticisms and Concerns
The proposal has been met with criticism from neighboring countries and human rights organizations. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the approach as “unacceptable,” arguing that it would effectively suspend the Schengen Agreement. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer also rejected the proposal, stating that Austria would not accept any people rejected from Germany.
Human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the proposal, citing the potential human rights violations and the risk of detention conditions not meeting international standards.
Potential Implications for EU Member States
Germany’s proposal raises questions about the potential implications for EU member states. The Dublin rules, which dictate that asylum seekers must be deported to the first EU country they entered, have been criticized for placing an unfair burden on certain countries. If Germany’s proposal is implemented, it could lead to a significant increase in deportations and put additional pressure on EU member states.
EU Response and Cooperation
The European Union has emphasized the need for cooperation and solidarity among member states in managing asylum procedures. However, the union’s response to Germany’s proposal has been mixed, with some countries supporting the measure and others expressing concerns about its potential implications.
Rwanda Deportation Plan
In a separate development, a German official has proposed sending asylum seekers to facilities in Rwanda funded by the UK, sparking controversy and concern among human rights organizations [2[2].
Asylum and Refugee Policy in Germany
Germany’s asylum and refugee policy has faced criticism and controversy in recent years. The country’s Asylum Act regulates the asylum procedure, which consists of several steps, including the asylum application, Dublin examination, and deportation [3[3].
Germany’s proposal to temporarily detain asylum seekers at its borders has sparked controversy and criticism, raising concerns about human rights violations and the potential implications for EU member states. As the debate continues, it is essential to consider the human rights and dignity of asylum seekers and to find solutions that balance national security concerns with international obligations.
References:
[1] Handbook Germany. (n.d.). Asylum
