Until new asylum system takes effect
Faeser continues to rely on border controls
27.05.2024, 08:21 a.m.
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The new EU asylum system is not yet in place – which is why Interior Minister Faeser wants to continue border controls for the time being. She also shows sympathy for the controversial Albania model, with which Italy wants to handle asylum procedures outside its borders.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser does not want to lift the temporary internal border controls until the external border protection of the European asylum system takes effect. “We will continue the controls until the new EU asylum system with the strong external border protection takes effect,” the SPD politician told the “Star”“In this way, we are primarily thwarting the smuggling routes and stopping their brutal business.” Since October, more than 750 smugglers have been arrested as a result of the additional controls.
In mid-October, Faeser introduced temporary stationary controls on Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in response to the sharp rise in refugee numbers. In the case of Austria, these have been in place for years. The controls will initially run until mid-June, but Faeser has already announced an extension to all German borders because of the European Football Championship that will begin in Germany then.
Procedures at external border to begin soon
When asked when the new and recently adopted Common European Asylum Law (CEAS) would start, Faeser replied: “Now. We have very ambitious timetables. We will tackle our part of the implementation immediately.” She was recently at the EU’s external border with Turkey in Bulgaria. “The new border procedures for people with little prospect of protection and the much stronger border protection should start very quickly there,” said Faeser.
The reform of the European asylum rules was sealed two weeks ago. For the first time, the asylum pact provides for procedures at the EU’s external borders. Migrants with little chance of being accepted are to be deported directly from border camps. Families with children must also go through these procedures. The federal government and especially the Greens had campaigned in vain for an exception. Human rights activists warn of prison-like conditions in the camps.
Sympathy for Albania model
After months of review, Faeser also shows sympathy for the Albania model and distances herself from an agreement with Rwanda. “I am looking forward to what Italy does together with Albania,” the SPD politician told “Stern”. Italy wants to handle asylum procedures in Albania itself as a third country. Faeser said of the Albania model: “It is an interesting model that I am discussing with my Italian counterpart.”
However, Faeser opposed calls to deport refugees to Rwanda in the future, following the British example. The Interior Minister said that she was pragmatic in her migration policy. “However, I doubt whether asylum procedures could be carried out on a large scale in a small country like Rwanda.” Faeser continued: “How many refugees has Rwanda taken in for other countries so far? Britain is finding it very difficult here – to put it mildly.”
The federal government is currently completing its review of how asylum procedures in third countries could be legally possible. But the key question still remains: “Which state would actually be prepared to take in large numbers of refugees? Which country would ensure the safety of these people and also return them if they were rejected? And all of this while respecting human rights,” said Faeser.
The Albania model has been criticized by human rights groups. They consider the plan to be comparable to the British government’s Rwanda model. However, Italy’s plans to build reception camps for thousands of migrants in Albania do not violate EU law.