Germany’s parliament has taken a significant step towards stricter immigration policies, approving new asylum seeker rules that signal a shift in the country’s approach. The move comes amidst a backdrop of growing far-right influence in Germany and across Europe, coupled with increasing pressure from the EU to address the ongoing migrant crisis.
The new measures introduce a series of changes designed to make it more difficult for asylum seekers to remain in Germany. One of the key provisions is the withdrawal of benefits from asylum seekers who are already registered in other EU countries and are slated for deportation. This move is aimed at discouraging asylum seekers from using Germany as a gateway to the EU.
Another significant change is the introduction of stricter rules that can lead to the loss of asylum status for individuals who temporarily return to their home countries or commit crimes with anti-Semitic or homophobic motivations. This measure has been met with criticism from some quarters, but the government argues that it is necessary to protect public safety and uphold German values.
The impetus for these changes can be traced back to a deadly stabbing at a festival in the western city of Solingen, where the suspect, a Syrian man with suspected links to the Islamic State group, was slated for deportation but managed to evade authorities. This incident, along with a broader sense of unease about public safety and the perceived strain on public services, has fueled calls for stricter immigration policies.
The new rules also introduce stricter regulations on the carrying of knives and grant police expanded investigatory powers. While the measures have been approved by the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, they still need the approval of the upper chamber, the Bundesrat, which is scheduled to vote on them on Friday.
The changes come at a crucial time, with national elections just a year away and anti-immigration parties gaining traction in the polls. The government, a coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and the liberal FDP, has been under intense pressure to adopt a more assertive stance on immigration. The new rules reflect the government’s attempt to balance public concerns about safety and immigration with its commitment to humanitarian principles.
The implementation of these stricter rules marks a notable change in Germany’s approach to immigration, almost a decade after former Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the country’s borders to refugees in 2015. The new German approach is in line with a broader hardening of attitudes towards immigration across Europe, where far-right parties are gaining increasing support.
On Thursday, EU leaders issued a call for urgent new legislation aimed at increasing the number and speed of migrant returns. Germany, like other EU member states, faces the challenge of managing irregular migration flows and protecting public safety while upholding its international obligations. The new asylum rules are part of Germany’s response to this complex challenge.