What to do in light of the increasing number of asylum seekers? Unions are pressing for action and calling for tightening measures. However, the Green Party specifically rejects this. And there are legal and practical obstacles.

Berlin – Migration to Germany increases: From January to August, more than 200,000 people applied for asylum in Germany for the first time, most of them from Syria and Afghanistan. This number increased by 77 percent compared to the same period last year. In addition, more than a million refugees from the recent Ukrainian war live here.

Municipal governments complained, warning of overload and demanding more help from the federal government. CDU leader Friedrich Merz demanded that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) hold direct talks after state elections in Bavaria and Hesse on Sunday “to immediately resolve the problem of illegal migration to Germany” – at least that’s what Merz said recently at the conference. Quote X platform (formerly Twitter). But is that possible? Overview of current demands.

Safe country of origin

In the case of countries declared to be safe countries of origin, it is assumed that there is generally no abuse or inhuman or degrading treatment in that country and that the foreigner concerned does not face a risk of serious harm in his or her country of origin. . This currently applies to the European Union member states Ghana, Senegal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. This will allow for easier asylum procedures.

The list will now be expanded to include Georgia and Moldova – which the Greens also support, citing the EU’s perspective on these countries. But in principle, they rejected the concept; therefore, expansion into the Maghreb countries of North Africa is not visible.

Upper limit

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) recently discussed an “integration limit” for refugee admissions of around 200,000 people per year. He himself spoke of “guiding values”. However, such “limits” can currently be no more than politically stated goals, given that the individual’s right to asylum is guaranteed in fundamental rights and obligations under international law.

EU asylum reform

After years of failed negotiations, EU countries are now seeking to tighten common asylum rules. From Germany’s point of view, this is also important because once migrants reach Europe, they can move there relatively freely. The key point is that centers where people coming from relatively safe countries must be accommodated in prison-like conditions for twelve weeks. Anyone who has no chance of receiving asylum should be sent home. However, the German Green Party in particular is having difficulty with the planned tightening measures.

Deportation

Calls for more deportations are a long-standing issue in Germany’s migration debate. Anyone who does not receive asylum or other protection in the country and is not permitted to remain a tolerated person temporarily due to illness must leave Germany again, even against their will if necessary. However, this requires the willingness of the country of deportation, usually the country of origin, to cooperate. However, they often have little interest in these programs because they are not popular among their population and because those affected also support their families at home financially if possible.

border control

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) recently announced increased flexible controls at the borders with the Czech Republic and Poland. Similar demands have long been coming from the CDU and CSU. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann and First Parliamentary Managing Director of the Union faction, Thorsten Frei (CDU), have just campaigned together in the newspaper “Bild” for immovable border controls to Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic – there on the border with Austria He Already.

However, its usefulness as an instrument against unwanted immigration is also doubtful. Anyone requesting asylum at the border usually has to have their application reviewed. Apparently not everyone does, as shown by the resistance at the Austrian border, writes legal expert Daniel Thym in “Verfassungsblog”. There may be a certain deterrent effect. However, experience shows that entry routes change as sections are checked and those who have been rejected may try again elsewhere. “There are no statistics on how many people are denied entry into the country,” Thym wrote.

Even Faeser recently told “Welt am Sonntag”: “One should not suggest that no more asylum seekers will come once there are inert border controls.” If someone requests asylum at the border, the asylum application must be examined in Germany. Protection of the EU’s external borders remains essential. However, this is just as difficult.

Migration agreement

Give and take is the basic idea of ​​the so-called migration agreement. Without a country of origin, it is ultimately difficult to take action against unwanted immigration and to allow the desired immigration of workers or students, which may also be in the interests of other parties. In Germany, special representative Joachim Stamp (FDP) should push the issue forward. There is already such an agreement with India, and negotiations are underway to reach such an agreement with at least six other countries. Stamp is currently holding confidential discussions with several countries, the Federal Interior Ministry told the German Press Agency. “Georgia, Moldova, Kenya, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan can currently be mentioned.”

There are similar efforts at EU level with the possibility of limiting the issuance of visas in the event of a lack of cooperation – but this has proven difficult in practice given the divergent interests of EU countries. dpa