Are Germany’s new measures more effective than those already in place? DW News

Key Concepts:

• Increased border rejections of asylum seekers in Germany.
• Shift from Angela Merkel's open-border policy to stricter controls.
• Designation of neighboring countries as "safe countries."
• Rejection of asylum applications at the border except for vulnerable individuals.
• Increased border police presence and technological resources.
• Criticism from left-wing parties and potential legal challenges under EU law.
• Mixed reactions from neighboring countries, particularly Austria and Poland.

Increased Border Rejections and Policy Shift:

• The number of people turned away at Germany's borders increased by 45% in the new government's first week.
• Interior Minister Alexander Dolin visited the Austrian border to observe the new measures.
• The new policy marks a "180-degree turnaround" from Angela Merkel's 2015 migration policy, where Germany effectively opened its borders.
• The government aims to restore "law and order" at the border.

Rationale for the New Measures:

• The government argues that Germany's neighboring countries are "safe countries," and asylum seekers should apply there first.
• The policy aims to crack down on smuggling gangs using drones and thermal imaging technology.
• The government claims to fulfill its humanitarian obligations by allowing vulnerable individuals to enter.

Criticism and Legal Challenges:

• The left party criticizes the policy as being against "all human decency" and international/European law.
• Critics argue that the measures breach EU asylum law, potentially leading to legal challenges.

Implementation Details:

• Expanded checks are being carried out along almost 4,000 kilometers of border.
• There has been a significant increase (slightly over 25%) in the number of border officers.
• The government is investing in technical equipment to enhance border control.

Effectiveness and Statistics:

• Interior Minister Dorrent claims that the new policy is working.
• In the week since the policy was introduced, 32 of 51 asylum applicants were rejected at the border.
• Previously, all asylum applicants were admitted to asylum reception centers.
• Dorrent also claimed that hundreds of attempts at illegal immigration had been prevented.

Reactions from Neighboring Countries:

• Austria welcomes the policy as a "paradigm shift" but is unwilling to take back rejected asylum seekers.
• Poland expresses dissatisfaction, claiming the policy violates EU law.
• There was at least one case of Afghans seeking asylum in Germany being pushed back by German authorities at the Polish border, only to eventually end up in Germany.

Simon Young's Analysis (DW Political Correspondent):

• The key change is the clear message that asylum applicants arriving at Germany's land borders have already traveled through safe countries.
• Previously, border rejections were limited to specific cases (e.g., prior bans).
• The new policy applies across the board, except for vulnerable individuals and humanitarian cases.

Notable Quotes:

• Alexander Dolin: Germany would not shirk its humanitarian responsibilities.
• Alexander Dorrent: The policy is already working.
• Austrian officials: The policy is a paradigm shift.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Germany's new border policy represents a significant shift towards stricter immigration controls, driven by the belief that asylum seekers should seek protection in the first safe country they reach. While the government defends the measures as necessary to restore order and combat smuggling, critics argue that they violate international law and undermine humanitarian principles. The policy's effectiveness and long-term impact remain to be seen, particularly in light of potential legal challenges and the mixed reactions from neighboring countries.