(de-news.net) – Thorsten Frei (CDU), the designated Chancellor’s Office Minister, and Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), the designated Federal Interior Minister, have both announced measures to further control Germany’s external borders. Frei indicated that the forthcoming coalition government comprising CDU, CSU, and SPD would deploy additional federal police forces to protect the borders. He explained that the intent was to intensify controls in order to bar entry for those lacking a legal right to enter. He characterized the measure an initiative yielding short‐term effects.
Frei further conveyed that Europe should, in the medium term, coverge the regulation of migration so as to balance humanitarian responsibilities with the prevention of societal overload. In this context, he supported a revision of the Common European Asylum System and advocated for the establishment of mechanisms that would allow asylum procedures to be conducted externally – particularly in secure third countries in Africa – and for easier repatriation processes to be developed.
Additionally, he noted that individual case reviews would be undertaken in relation to current intake programs, citing the example of approximately 2,600 Afghan nationals awaiting visa decisions. He maintained that, despite most asylum seekers initially being considered to have entered illegally due to pre-entry procedural constraints, they retain the right to apply for asylum under German law and the Geneva Convention once within the country.
Dobrindt, on his part, confirmed that the new federal government would immediately implement expanded border controls. He explained that while no closures were intended, the borders would be subject to heightened monitoring. Furthermore, he expressed his determination to act even before formally assuming office, noting that he had already initiated consultations with European partners in order to enhance cooperative efforts at the continental level.
Dobrindt critiqued the recently approved reform of the Common European Asylum System, contending that although it was a step in the right direction, its pace was unsatisfactory given the current challenges posed by migration. He maintained that a strategic adjustment at the borders was essential for mitigating the marked social polarization attributed to illegal migration, and he argued that the new black-red government provided a more favorable environment for such policy shifts compared to the previous grand coalition, thanks to stronger backing from the executive.
Opponents, including representatives from the Green Party, expressed skepticism regarding the ambitious agenda, with some likening his current task to past endeavors that had met with considerable difficulty. Besides, it was noted that terms like “illegal migration” are frequently used interchangeably, despite the fact that many asylum seekers initially enter without formal authorization due to procedural constraints, only to regain legal status through subsequent asylum applications.
