Latest news with #German-Polish
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
German court rules rejection of asylum seekers by border control as unlawful
The German federal police patrols along the German-Polish border area in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi/File Photo BERLIN - A German administrative court has ruled the rejection of asylum seekers by border control on German territory as unlawful, a court statement said on Monday. The statement cited the instance of three unnamed Somali applicants, two men and one woman, who were turned back and returned to Poland on the grounds that they had sought to enter Germany from a safe country. Monday's ruling could challenge the tougher migration stance by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led coalition, which was elected in February promising a crackdown. The interior ministry had no immediate comment. "The rejection of the applicants was unlawful," the Berlin court said in a statement, adding that the asylum application should have been processed by Germany under the European Union's so-called Dublin rules. "However, the applicants could not demand to enter the Federal Republic of Germany beyond the border crossing," it added, saying that the application could be processed at or near the border. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
German court rules rejection of asylum seekers by border control as unlawful
The German federal police patrols along the German-Polish border area in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) - A German administrative court has ruled the rejection of asylum seekers by border control on German territory as unlawful, a court statement said on Monday. The statement cited the instance of three unnamed Somali applicants, two men and one woman, who were turned back and returned to Poland on the grounds that they had sought to enter Germany from a safe country. Monday's ruling could challenge the tougher migration stance by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led coalition, which was elected in February promising a crackdown. The interior ministry had no immediate comment. "The rejection of the applicants was unlawful," the Berlin court said in a statement, adding that the asylum application should have been processed by Germany under the European Union's so-called Dublin rules. "However, the applicants could not demand to enter the Federal Republic of Germany beyond the border crossing," it added, saying that the application could be processed at or near the border. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Rachel More)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Experts: Berlin-Warsaw ties will suffer after Nawrocki's election win
Relations between Berlin and Warsaw could suffer after conservative Karol Nawrocki won Poland's presidential election, German foreign policy experts warned on Monday. Lawmaker Paul Ziemiak said cooperation between Germany and Poland is "fundamentally important" for Europe. However, Ziemiak told the Deutschlandfunk radio station that the relationship could become strained after Nawrocki's victory in Sunday's election. "It will not be easier with this new president, Karol Nawrocki," said Ziemiak, who leads the German-Polish parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. During the election campaign, Nawrocki argued that Germany could never be trusted, Agniezka Lada-Konefal from the German Institute of Polish Affairs told dpa. Nawrocki, a conservative historian, pledged he would fight for World War II reparations from Germany, an issue that has long proved contentious between the two countries. As head of state, Nawrocki will not be able to initiate any concrete steps on reparations, but he can influence the atmosphere in bilateral relations with his rhetoric, said Lada-Konefal. Furthermore, she said the result will likely make life difficult for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who could struggle to pass his reform agenda due to Nawrocki's veto power. Tusk is seen as close to Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with the pair having already held several meetings since the latter took office last month. Lada-Konefal said Tusk will have to "avoid any positive movements in the direction of Germany" ahead of parliamentary elections in 2027. "Major German-Polish initiatives are therefore not to be expected," she argued.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany's Steinmeier congratulates Polish election winner Nawrocki
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday congratulated Karol Nawrocki on his victory in the Polish presidential election. "German-Polish friendship is a matter close to my heart. Let us strengthen the friendship between our peoples together," said Steinmeier. The right-wing Nawrocki narrowly defeated Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski in Sunday's election, securing 50.89% of the vote. Steinmeier noted in his statement that Germany is aware of its responsibility for the suffering brought upon Poland during World War II. "We are all the more grateful that Poland and Germany stand side by side today as close partners in the European Union and NATO," the German president said. "We must work closely together on the basis of democracy and the rule of law in order to secure Europe's future in security, freedom and prosperity," he added. Nawrocki is taking office at a very challenging time for Europe, which is "counting on Poland," Steinmeier said. He invited the president-elect to Berlin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has emphasized the importance of relations with Poland since taking office last month, having met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on a number of occasions. Sunday's election result could complicate ties between Berlin and Warsaw, as the conservative Nawrocki vowed during the campaign to raise the contentious issue of World War II reparations - a long-standing thorn in German-Polish relations.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
German government restricts migrant family reunification, path to citizenship
FILE PHOTO: Suspected illegal migrants sit on the ground after they were detained by German police during their patrol along the German-Polish border to prevent illegal migration, in Forst, Germany, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo BERLIN - Germany's government approved measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and delay citizenship access on Wednesday, forging ahead with a major shift in migration policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The cabinet agreed to a two-year suspension of the right for migrants who do not qualify for full refugee status, so called "subsidiary protection" holders, to bring their children and spouses to Germany. Around 380,000 people, mainly Syrians, hold this status. Subsidiary protection previously allowed 12,000 family members to join their relatives in Germany annually. According to the draft law, this temporary suspension aims "to relieve pressure on Germany's reception and integration systems" and provides an "appropriate means for quickly relieving burden on municipalities". The government also eliminated the "fast-track" naturalization option after three years of residency, extending the minimum waiting period for citizenship to five years. This decision overturns a regulation introduced six months ago by the three-party coalition under Social Democrat Olaf Scholz. Last year, Germany saw around 200,000 naturalizations, the highest in 25 years. The criteria for applicants typically include financial independence, stable employment and strong language skills. The legislative proposals will be fast-tracked through parliament via the governing coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats, bypassing the need for referral to the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
