Bremerhaven in the sign of migration: Interior Minister wants to change asylum policy

Bremerhaven in the sign of migration: Interior Minister wants to change asylum policy

In Bremerhaven, the Interior Minister of the Bund and the countries recently came together to discuss urgent topics in migration policy. Under the chair of Bremen Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD), they came to the conclusion that a common European path is necessary to noticeably reduce migration in Germany. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) emphasized how important it was to "reduce" the common European asylum system (GEAS). The aim of the conference was to send clear signals and in particular to lower the "pull factors" that move migrants to Germany, reports the Welt .

In the political agenda, there are also changes to asylum law on the agenda. Dobrindt pointed out the new regulations of the federal government, which include the exposure to family reunification and changes to the safe countries of origin. A number of over 80 agenda items were dealt with, including electronic residence monitoring as a means of combating female female and the need to deal with the AfD.

Reform of the asylum system

The reform process of the GEAS, which was sealed in December 2023 by the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, is intended to ensure a more uniform approach in migration policy. The Federal Center for Political Education emphasizes that the reform is considered the most extensive change in recent decades and is the decline in the asylum competition in the EU drew. After the figures dropped to around 472,660 in 2020, they rose to over 1.1 million in 2023, with Germany with around 334,000 applications (29 percent) a significant part of it.

A key point of this reform is the introduction of a screening procedure for all protective seekers arriving at the EU external borders. The right to protection status should be decided within twelve weeks. In particular, a solidarity mechanism is also introduced, which is intended to relieve states with a high number of those seeking protection. The new system is intended to ensure more efficient procedures and at the same time maintain fundamental rights, which is supported by independent control mechanisms.

political and social challenges

The conference of the interior ministers also dealt with security policy challenges caused by the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Dobrindt made it clear that protective measures are necessary for Jewish citizens and institutions to increase the level of security in the face of possible threats. This topic is also expressed in the context of increasing tensions and the complex linking of migration and security.

The new migration and asylum package, which was adopted in the European Parliament, sets further framework conditions. Among other things, it provides that Member States have to contribute financially to the replacement of asylum seekers, and there are clear guidelines on how to deal with a sudden increase in migrant stream. The associated regulations on the detention and freedom of movement by asylum seekers were also considered necessary. As EU-Parliament implement.

It remains to be seen how the political decisions and reforms will affect actual migration. The fact is that the challenges are diverse and a skillful handling of these topics has a high priority in order to reconcile both humanitarian and security policy claims.