Latest news with #AlexanderDobrindt
LBCI
2 days ago
- Business
- LBCI
Germany hopes for EU deal on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, minister says
Germany's interior minister is hoping the European Union can reach a bloc-wide agreement on sending failed asylum seekers who cannot go home to safe countries near their original homelands. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives won February's national election on a promise to bring down immigration levels, which opinion polls showed many voters regarded as being out of control, although numbers have been falling for over a year. In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper published on Saturday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the approach of using third countries could work only if there was a Europe-wide consensus. Reuters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New German interior minister defends harder line on migration policy
The tougher approach to migration policy taken by Germany's new coalition government is already showing results, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. "Asylum applications at the border are also low because word has quickly got around that entry into the Federal Republic of Germany is no longer guaranteed despite asylum applications," Dobrindt told Welt am Sonntag, in comments published on Saturday. Hours after taking office on May 6, Dobrindt imposed stricter border checks, instructing that all asylum seekers should be turned back. The measures do not apply to pregnant women, children or other vulnerable people. During the interview, Dobrindt also spoke of a "domino effect," noting that neighbouring countries have followed suit by increasing checks at their own borders. When asked about criticism from Poland and Switzerland, he reponded: "You should also mention those countries that support our new migration policy." The minister cited France, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Austria. "[These countries] have viewed our magnetic effect on refugees with concern, which was triggered by the [previous government's] migration policy. They all welcome the fact that Germany is becoming less attractive in terms of illegal migration." Poland's embassy in Berlin had previously raised concerns over the tighter border controls, warning such measures could disrupt cross-border traffic and the functioning of the EU's internal market. Switzerland also emphasized that Germany's incoming conservative-led government must keep its treatment of migrants and refugees in line with European law. Dobrindt added that Germany's policy shift also helps to ease pressure on transit countries. "There are no problems at the German borders," said Dobrindt. The aim was not to overburden Germany's neighbours, he said. "But our neighbours must also understand that Germany is no longer prepared to continue its migration policy of recent years." Meanwhile, Germany's GdP police union has warned that the stricter border controls can only be sustained for a limited period. The federal police, responsible for the country's borders, have managed the additional workload only by adjusting duty rosters, suspending training sessions, and deferring overtime leave, the chairman of the union has stated. Since mid-October 2023, German customs officers, who fall under the Finance Ministry, have been supporting police along the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland.
Local Germany
2 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
Inside Germany: Confusion surrounds end of 'turbo' citizenship and all the June changes
Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might've missed. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. End of the three year fast-track path to citizenship Germany's new black-red government had promised to bring changes to the country's immigration policies, and they have wasted very little time in getting to the point. Just over three weeks have passed since the conservative Christian Union (CDU/CSU) and centre-left Social Democrat parties have stepped into their new leading roles in the federal government and already the cabinet has passed two bills set to tighten the country's immigration policies. The bills, which still need to be passed by the Bundestag before becoming law, were put forward by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), who had previously pledged to bring forth a "turnaround" in migration. One of the bills would suspend family reunification for migrants with subsidiary protection status (essentially refugees that were not granted asylum but are lawfully allowed to remain in Germany). The other would end the three-year fast-track to German citizenship that was introduced last year as part of the sweeping reform of Germany's naturalisation rules. The good news is that, despite pledges we'd previously heard from conservative leaders, Germany's new federal government wont focus its efforts on scrapping the rest of the naturalisation reforms that were enacted nearly one year ago (on June 27th). So German dual-citizenship will remain an option for non-EU nationals, and the residency requirement will remain at five years as opposed to the previous eight. A person holds a German and British passport. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Britta Pedersen The bad news is that any foreign residents who might have qualified as "highly integrated" , and who had been looking forward to naturalising after just three years in the country will now have to wait at least two more, like the rest of us. As of yet it's unclear how the rule change would affect anyone who is waiting for decision on their pending fast-track citizenship application. But as we wrote on Monday , one migration lawyer in Germany has suggested that applicants in this position might considering bringing forward an Untätigkeitsklage (a legal challenge against the failure to act), as that could force the relevant officials to make a decision on your application before the rule change is established as law. Advertisement For now, it's unclear exactly how many people have applied for citizenship via the fast-track. Germany's Statistical Office keeps count of how many people naturalise each year, but when The Local reached out for clarification they said they don't differentiate between "highly integrated" or standard naturalisations. Have you applied for citizenship through either track, or plan to do so soon? We'd love to hear about your experience in our latest survey. Any comments your willing to share may help us as we prepare future articles on the topic. Where is this? Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Willnow Advertisement Opencast mining is a big operation, and it's left its mark on various German landscapes, wherever lignite coal or others rocks and minerals have been extracted. This old mining town saw the closure of it's large mine in 1991, but the large excavator machines you can see in the background of the shot above were left on site, and they have been effectively repurposed as monuments that can be observed, and even climbed on, in a large outdoor museum. But the space does not only serve as a museum, depicted above, members of a Christian parish from the nearby village of Gräfenhainichen have gathered for a special church service on Ascension Day (or Christi Himmelfahrt ) , which was observed on Thursday this week. The photo was taken at Ferropolis, which is set in the retired open-cast mine Golpa Nord at Gremminer See. The site is about two hours southwest of Berlin by car, or about one hour north of Leipzig. Advertisement Coming changes With the sky staying light well into the evening -- and then brightening again far too early in the morning -- it's clear that Summer is just around around the corner. This weekend brings the end of May and the start of June, and also a number of interesting changes for those of us living Germany. The first notable change starts from the coming Sunday (June 1st) when maternity leave, or Mutterschutz, is to also apply to women who lose a pregnancy due to miscarriage (from the 13th week). Another notable change comes just a few days later on June 6th when rules around changing electricity providers will change. Our newest contributor, Tom Pugh unpacked what that change means for consumers this week. READ ALSO: Seven unmissable events happening around Germany in June 2025 The other June update to be aware of is that Whit Monday, on the 9th, will bring yet another three-day weekend to most regular workers. You'll want to make any travel plans now if you're going too.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Germany hopes for EU deal on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, minister says
FILE PHOTO: German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt attends a cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's interior minister is hoping the European Union can reach a bloc-wide agreement on sending failed asylum seekers who cannot go home to safe countries near their original homelands. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives won February's national election on a promise to bring down immigration levels, which opinion polls showed many voters regarded as being out of control, although numbers have been falling for over a year. In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper published on Saturday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the approach of using third countries could work only if there was a Europe-wide consensus. "We need third countries that are prepared to take migrants who are objectively unable to return to their home countries," he told the newspaper. Earlier this month, the EU's executive Commission proposed a scheme that would let member states reject asylum applications from migrants who passed through a "safe" third country on their way to the bloc. The proposals, criticised by rights groups, have yet to be adopted by national governments or the European Parliament. "No individual EU member state can create this model on its own: it will have to happen on an EU level," Dobrindt said. "We are preparing the foundations for that right now." Dobrindt's initial promises to tighten border controls on taking office angered neighbours who protested at plans to return to their territory those migrants found not to have a right to enter Germany. An Italian plan to process asylum seekers picked up at sea in Albania has stalled amid Italian court challenges. A scheme by Britain, which is not an EU member, under its previous Conservative government to send asylum seekers who arrived in Britain without permission to Rwanda was scrapped by Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he took office last year. (Reporting by Thomas EscrittEditing by Frances Kerry)
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Germany hopes for EU deal on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, minister says
BERLIN, May 31 (Reuters) - Germany's interior minister is hoping the European Union can reach a bloc-wide agreement on sending failed asylum seekers who cannot go home to safe countries near their original homelands. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives won February's national election on a promise to bring down immigration levels, which opinion polls showed many voters regarded as being out of control, although numbers have been falling for over a year. In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper published on Saturday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the approach of using third countries could work only if there was a Europe-wide consensus. "We need third countries that are prepared to take migrants who are objectively unable to return to their home countries," he told the newspaper. Earlier this month, the EU's executive Commission proposed a scheme that would let member states reject asylum applications from migrants who passed through a "safe" third country on their way to the bloc. The proposals, criticised by rights groups, have yet to be adopted by national governments or the European Parliament. "No individual EU member state can create this model on its own: it will have to happen on an EU level," Dobrindt said. "We are preparing the foundations for that right now." Dobrindt's initial promises to tighten border controls on taking office angered neighbours who protested at plans to return to their territory those migrants found not to have a right to enter Germany. An Italian plan to process asylum seekers picked up at sea in Albania has stalled amid Italian court challenges. A scheme by Britain, which is not an EU member, under its previous Conservative government to send asylum seekers who arrived in Britain without permission to Rwanda was scrapped by Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he took office last year.
