Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed the ongoing examination of asylum procedures in third countries after a meeting with German state leaders in Berlin. There is a commitment to continue the process, with Scholz planning to present proposals at the next federal and state government meeting in December.
Reviewing Asylum Procedures
State leaders had urged the review of concrete models for asylum processing in third countries, inspired by the UK’s plans for procedures in Rwanda and Italy’s agreement for procedures in Albania. Experts, however, expressed skepticism regarding the transferability to Germany due to legal and practical challenges.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser proposed third-country processing as a potential element of German migration policy, though she noted it would not significantly impact the overall migration situation or the number of asylum-seekers in the country.
State Leaders’ Response
Some state leaders, like Stephan Weil of Lower Saxony, remained cautious about outsourcing asylum processing, highlighting the numerous questions raised during expert hearings. In contrast, Hesse Premier Boris Rhein expressed confidence in developing concrete implementation proposals, seeing it as a crucial step towards an effective model for Germany.
In conclusion, the discussion on third-country asylum procedures in Germany is ongoing, with various perspectives and cautious optimism for the future.