DAsylum procedures in the European Union are to be significantly tightened in view of the problems related to illegal immigration. At a meeting of interior ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday, a sufficient majority of member states voted in favor of comprehensive reform plans, the Swedish presidency announced on Thursday evening after hours of difficult negotiations. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Fesser (SPD) said: “These are not easy decisions for everyone at the table, but they are historic.”
The reform plans that have now been agreed provide more harsh treatment for immigrants who have no chance of staying. In the future, people from countries considered safe will have to arrive at strictly controlled reception facilities under conditions similar to detention after crossing the border. There, the applicant’s eligibility for asylum is usually checked within twelve weeks. If not, send it back immediately.
In talks, the central government insisted that families with children be exempted from so-called border procedures. However, in order to make progress possible, she eventually had to accept that this was possible.
The draft can be softened
After the decision, Union Home Minister Pfizer, however, said the central government would continue to argue for exemptions with Portugal, Ireland and Luxembourg. It is also conceivable that the EU Parliament will propose changes. It has a say in the reform and will negotiate the plan with representatives of EU countries in the coming months.
In addition to tighter asylum procedures, the plans decided on Thursday provide greater solidarity with overburdened member states at the EU’s external borders. In the future, it should no longer be voluntary, but mandatory. Countries unwilling to take in refugees will be forced to pay compensation.
In addition, the reform plans should implement far-reaching cooperation programs with non-EU countries. According to responsible commissioner Ylva Johansson, rejected asylum seekers may also be deported to non-EU countries in the future. The only requirement is that they should be connected with this country. What this should look like should be at the discretion of the EU Member States responsible for their respective asylum procedures.
The central government had to surrender
The federal government does not actually recognize a pure transit stay in a third country as a link, but, for example, only family members residing in the country. However, this demand was dropped during Thursday’s talks to implement an agreement on plans for asylum reform. If it is decided, and the government in Tunis agrees, Italy could use it to repatriate people arriving via the Mediterranean. To convince them, financial assistance can be offered.
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