Second attempt for EU asylum reform in Germany
Berlin (dpa) – In order for the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) to be implemented in Germany next year, the German government has approved two necessary amendments to the law. CEAS is “the key to managing and organizing migration as a whole, protecting humanitarian standards for refugees, and limiting irregular migration,” states the draft that the cabinet has adopted. Germany will “clearly benefit from the balanced balance of responsibility and solidarity.”
Reporting obligation for asylum seekers
In addition to implementing European requirements, the now approved drafts “contain further rules that allow for a more restrictive design of the asylum procedure,” the German Ministry of the Interior reports. Authorities should in the future have enhanced options for clear residence and reporting obligations to ensure the presence of asylum seekers. This is intended to increase the number of deportations and transfers of asylum seekers to other European states responsible for their procedures.
Checks at the EU external borders
The CEAS reform decided by the EU states in spring 2024 gives member states a deadline until June 2026 for implementation – until then, the previous rules apply across Europe. The reform includes, among other things, an obligation for identity checks on arrivals. Asylum seekers with a EU-wide protection rate of less than 20 percent are to undergo their procedure at the EU external border and may be deported directly from there.
Criticism came from the refugee organization Pro Asyl. The organization opposes, among other things, an expansion of asylum procedures at German airports. Recently, many people, especially from Greece, have arrived by plane who were recognized as refugees in Greece and applied for asylum again in Germany. “The airport procedure is definitely not the right answer to this phenomenon,” says the refugee rights organization.
Integration commissioner defends planned changes
The Federal Government’s Integration Commissioner, Natalie Pawlik, says she has advocated in recent weeks that the rights of particularly vulnerable refugees – including families, children, and unaccompanied minors – be upheld in many areas during the implementation of the CEAS reform into national law.
There had already been a cabinet decision on the reform in November – just a few hours before the then governing coalition collapsed. Since no majority could be found in the Bundestag for the draft law, the project now has to be put back on track. (September 3)
