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Interior Minister Faeser considers “Albania model” for third-country procedures
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser: “I am looking forward to what Italy will do together with Albania”
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow / DPA
How could asylum procedures work in third countries? The “Albania model” has now aroused the interest of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. The SPD politician is fighting against austerity measures in the 2025 budget.
After months of consideration, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser has expressed sympathy for the so-called Albania model and distanced herself from the Rwanda model. “I am looking forward to what Italy will do together with Albania,” said the SPD politician in an interview with the star.
Unlike the much-discussed Rwanda model, Italy wants to handle the asylum procedures in Albania itself, which is something different, says Faeser. “It’s an interesting model that I’m discussing with my Italian counterpart,” says the Interior Minister. She is pragmatic when it comes to migration policy. “But I doubt whether asylum procedures could take place on a larger scale in a small country like Rwanda.”
Faeser continued: “How many refugees has Rwanda taken in so far for other countries? Britain is having a very hard time here – to say the least.” It is much more important that we continue to concentrate on better protection of the external borders and faster procedures, as provided for in the EU asylum law reform.
The federal government is currently examining whether and under what circumstances asylum procedures in third countries would be legally possible. But the key question still remains: “Which state would actually be willing to take in large numbers of refugees? Which country would ensure the safety of these people and also return them if they were rejected? And all of this while respecting human rights,” said Faeser.
Nancy Faeser: “Cuts to security agencies are out of the question”
In conversation with the star The Interior Minister also commented on the 2025 budget and rejected austerity measures. “I need the necessary resources to set up the security authorities so that they can meet the challenges. That is why cuts to our security authorities are out of the question for me,” said the SPD politician.
With a view to the upcoming budget negotiations, the minister stated: “I am counting on everyone being aware of how important internal security is in these times.” In addition to the Federal Minister of Finance, the Federal Chancellor also recently called on the cabinet to comply with the austerity targets.
“A turning point also means that Germany’s security must be the benchmark,” said Faeser, explaining the additional spending announced by her department. It is necessary to defend against more and more cyber attacks, to control borders more tightly and for longer, and to speed up asylum procedures. “All of this requires personnel and technology. This does not come for free,” said the Interior Minister.
Faeser stressed that she has long been prioritizing tasks and is constantly checking where spending could be saved. Further cuts would be at the expense of all those areas that do not directly serve internal security. “When budgets are tight, we must concentrate on what the federal government is responsible for. When it comes to digitization, for example, the states must then do more,” demanded the minister.