Berlin: German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and five of his European counterparts agreed on Friday on a set of measures aimed at tightening asylum policies within the European Union (EU), including resuming deportations to third countries and classifying them as standard practice.
This agreement came during a meeting held in Germany, attended by the interior ministers of France, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Denmark, along with EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
This move comes after Berlin announced last May that it would begin rejecting asylum seekers at the border, a move it said was implemented in coordination with neighboring countries, but which sparked widespread criticism.
The joint document issued following the meeting included several key points, including removing legislative obstacles to the transfer of rejected asylum seekers to "safe centers" outside the EU, activating asylum procedures in third countries, and imposing visa restrictions on citizens of countries that do not cooperate with deportations.
The document emphasized the need to reclassify deportations to third countries as a standard practice, given the increasing pressure on asylum systems within EU member states.
These recommendations still require approval by EU institutions in Brussels before they can enter into force.
