Germany is pushing for a European Union-wide agreement to transfer failed asylum seekers who cannot return to their home countries to designated safe third nations, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed in a weekend interview. The proposal aligns with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s election pledge to reduce immigration—a top voter concern despite declining arrival numbers.
The initiative builds on the European Commission’s recent proposal allowing member states to reject asylum claims from migrants who transited through safe countries en route to Europe. Dobrindt emphasized that unilateral action would fail, stating: “No individual EU member state can create this model on its own.”
Human rights organizations have condemned the approach as a violation of international protections.
Germany’s plan follows stalled efforts by Italy to process Mediterranean rescues in Albania and the UK’s abandoned Rwanda deportation scheme. Dobrindt’s earlier border crackdowns sparked diplomatic tensions with neighboring states, underscoring the need for unified EU action.
The minister acknowledged that implementation requires overcoming legal challenges and securing agreements with third nations willing to accept relocated migrants.
