- The Secretary of Home Affairs detects no shifts in the scheduled migrant discussions.
CDU's Interior Minister Shares Concerns Over Traffic Light Government's Migration Policy
CDU's Interior Minister Michael Stübgen voiced skepticism towards the traffic light government's plans to manage irregular migration. Speaking to the German Press Agency, Stübgen shared his concerns, saying, "Most refugees will still be able to freely enter Germany under this policy. A genuine asylum shift isn't feasible through these measures."
Stübgen, who is also the head of the interior ministers' conference, criticized the Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD)'s plan to expedite the transfer of asylum seekers registered elsewhere to their responsible European countries. "Instead of blocking migration, the traffic light coalition wants to set up more bureaucracy first," he stated. This would necessitate additional examination procedures, separate housing, possible detention of entire groups, legal regulations, additional personnel, and a new infrastructure. Yet, only about 10% of the incoming migrants are currently registered in European transit nations.
Faeser presented her plans at a federal government and union meeting on migration, but no consensus was reached. The government is still planning reforms, while the CDU faction leader and chair, Friedrich Merz, declared the talks as unsuccessful.
Stübgen supports stricter border controls
In response to Faeser's announcement of border controls, Stübgen, as the chairman of the interior ministers' conference, expressed his approval. "However, the borders with the Netherlands and Denmark are hardly popular entry points," Stübgen pointed out.
Since last October, there have been stationary controls at land borders with the Czech Republic, Poland, and Switzerland to combat smuggling and limit irregular migration. Since autumn 2015, such controls have been imposed at the German-Austrian border as well.
Stübgen, as the chair of the interior ministers' conference, raised concerns about the traffic light government's migration policy during the Conference of the Ministers of the Interior. He criticized Nancy Faeser's plan to expedite the transfer of asylum seekers, stating that it would result in more bureaucracy and additional resources without significantly reducing migration.
