Before the federal-state summit
Union and FDP: Debate about asylum procedures outside Europe
Hendrik Wüst (CDU) speaks at the CDU North Rhine-Westphalia state party conference. photo
© Christoph Reichwein/dpa
Great Britain has been trying to shift asylum procedures to Rwanda for a long time. Now there is a similar debate in Germany. However, different signals are coming from the traffic light coalition.
Almost a week before the federal-state summit on migration, high-ranking politicians from the Union and FDP started a debate about asylum procedures outside Europe.
North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr spoke out in favor of seriously discussing such a step. There is also sympathy for the idea in the SPD. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (both SPD) were skeptical during their trips to Africa.
“Polite advice” from Scholz to the Union and FDP
When making such proposals, one should first ask what the third countries that are supposed to carry out the procedures say about them, said Scholz in Ghana, West Africa. “At least that would be polite advice.”
During her visit to Morocco, Faeser said that the migration agreements planned by the traffic light government with individual countries of origin of asylum seekers were “more effective”. The aim is to facilitate the return of migrants without the right to remain in Germany and at the same time to promote the immigration of skilled workers. Scholz and Faeser have been promoting these agreements in recent days on their simultaneous trips to Africa. The Chancellor in Nigeria and Ghana, Faeser in Morocco.
Wüst calls for asylum procedures along escape routes
Meanwhile, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Wüst spoke out in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” in favor of examining asylum procedures outside Europe. After their arrival in Europe, refugees should be brought to partner countries along the escape routes “so that procedures and protection can take place there according to the rule of law,” the CDU politician told the newspaper. “This means that those who cannot expect protection status will not come to our country in the first place.”
On November 6th, the prime ministers of the federal states want to discuss with Scholz about curbing irregular migration and financing the costs of caring for refugees in Germany. On Friday there will be a preliminary discussion between Scholz and CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) and CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt. The Chancellor is striving for an agreement with the Union. An initial conversation with Merz has already taken place. But the meeting with the Prime Minister next Monday is crucial.
Dürr: “It’s a question of humanity”
He received support from the governing party FDP. Parliamentary group leader Dürr told the “SZ” that his party was also in favor of carrying out asylum procedures in third countries outside the EU. “Such a regulation would create clarity about the protection status and prevent people from taking the dangerous route across the Mediterranean without prospects. This is also a question of humanity.”
SPD MP: Previous measures “unsuitable patchwork”
Some SPD members of the Bundestag also support asylum procedures outside Europe. According to “SZ”, Frank Schwabe, Lars Castellucci and Fabian Funke have developed a joint proposal that they want to present to the parliamentary group. Many of the measures currently being discussed are just “unsuitable patchwork without a major impact on the numbers,” Schwabe told the newspaper. Therefore, an agreement with the countries of origin is needed quickly.
“The concept also includes that drowning people are rescued by the state and are no longer beaten at borders. But the asylum procedure is no longer carried out in Europe,” said Schwabe. “Anyone who arrives at the external borders will have their asylum procedure carried out outside Europe.”
Scholz warns: keep a “clear head”.
In contrast, Scholz said in Ghana’s capital Accra that there were “many things that were being proposed every day.” “The most important thing is to always keep a clear head.” Wherever you need partners, you first have to check “whether they also want to cooperate”.
British push for asylum procedures in Rwanda initially stopped
The British government has already made its first concrete push for asylum procedures. She wants to send migrants permanently to Rwanda so that they can receive protection there. However, the High Court, a high British court, declared the action illegal. The conservative government has lodged an appeal against this. It is unclear when the decision can be expected.
The plans of Great Britain’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman envisage that people who have entered the United Kingdom irregularly – regardless of their origin and without examining their asylum applications – will be detained and deported to Rwanda as soon as possible. You should then apply for asylum there. There are no plans to return to Great Britain.