Germany, EU Partners Move Toward Stricter Asylum Policies

Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has joined forces with five fellow European officials to push forward a proposal aimed at reinforcing the European Union’s asylum framework—highlighting a future where deportations to countries like Syria and Afghanistan would be normalized.

The talks took place atop Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain, shortly after Germany implemented a controversial measure in May to deny entry to certain asylum seekers at the border. That move, which authorities claimed was coordinated with neighboring nations, nonetheless sparked heated public debate.

During the gathering, Dobrindt sat down with officials from Austria, France, Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, along with EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner.

Together, they outlined a unified plan for reform, including a push to dismantle legal barriers that currently block rejected asylum seekers from being relocated to safe, non-EU nations for processing. The proposals also support allowing asylum requests to be handled in designated third countries.

“We share the conviction that Europe must act with determination and unity to reduce illegal migration effectively,” stated a joint declaration circulated by the German interior ministry.

According to the same document, deportation to high-risk countries like Syria and Afghanistan should become routine once more. It also suggests applying visa penalties to nations that refuse to cooperate with the EU’s deportation efforts.

This renewed migration stance aligns with recent actions by the German government, which just carried out the deportation of 81 Afghan nationals—its latest move in a more aggressive migration strategy launched in May.