EU asylum reform takes effect as Germany doubles down on border controls

The reformed Common European Asylum System (CEAS) has officially come into effect across the European Union, introducing mandatory preliminary screening at external borders for asylum seekers originating from countries with low recognition rates. Under the new framework, individuals from nations including Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Nigeria will be subjected to fast-track border procedures in largely closed-off camps. This measure targets applicants from countries where fewer than 20 per cent of asylum claims are recognised, according to data from Eurostat.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt intends to utilise these regulations to reduce overall asylum numbers and facilitate transfers to first-entry countries through mandatory solidarity mechanisms. However, the practical application of these rules faces significant hurdles. Poland and Hungary have previously refused to participate in the mandatory solidarity mechanism on principle, and the European Commission has noted that Germany, alongside Greece and Italy, does not yet meet all CEAS requirements in certain areas.

Immigration expert Gerald Knaus, founder of the European Stability Initiative, expressed scepticism regarding the reform’s ability to alter migration patterns. He argued that rejected asylum seekers often move to other EU countries rather than being deported, and that application numbers are driven more by developments in origin countries than by EU legislation. Knaus pointed to the post-Assad situation in Syria, noting that the decline in Syrian exodus since late 2024 has reduced applications in Germany and Austria independently of border controls or interior ministerial policy.

While asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Syria, who have recognition rates exceeding 20 per cent, will undergo regular procedures, Germany’s interior ministry stated it does not intend to accept any asylum seekers for the remainder of the year due to being overburdened. To manage returns, the German government plans to establish "return centres" across its states, expanding from the two existing facilities in Hamburg and Eisenhüttenstadt. Additionally, plans for "return hubs" for deportation to third countries remain largely theoretical, with Dobrindt describing the identification of partner countries as a difficult task to be completed by year-end.

Despite the European Commission calling on Germany to gradually phase out comprehensive border controls now that CEAS is in force, Dobrindt has refused. He argued that maintaining controls is necessary to prevent the system from becoming overwhelmed again. The number of first-time asylum applications in Europe and Germany has fallen significantly over the past two years, a trend Dobrindt attributes to existing border controls implemented by Germany and nine other member states. EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner acknowledged that the introduction of the reform marks the beginning of a long process, noting that perfection is not expected at the start.