- The EU's asylum process is accommodating for asylum applications beyond its territorial limits.
The Minister President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, as reported in media, is open to the idea of handing over asylum application processing to nations outside the EU. The SPD politician shared this perspective with the "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung", adding that a fair division of asylum seekers across Europe is also a possibility he considers.
Weil made clear that he wasn't talking about Rwanda, a country that was suggested by the UK for deportation of asylum seekers. However, he stated it's plausible to handle asylum applications in North African countries bordering the Mediterranean. This, he hopes, could help prevent the Mediterranean from becoming an even more tragic burial ground.
As recently as June, Weil had shown reservations towards the concept known as the "third-country solution". In response to state calls on the federal government to propose practical models for asylum procedures in third countries or transit countries, Weil had stated, "I don't think this will solve our structural issues."
Despite his past reservations, Weil recently suggested considering asylum application processing in countries like The Hanover, ideally situated near potential migration routes. This could potentially alleviate the burden on European countries and minimize the number of tragic incidents in the Mediterranean.
