Berlin Backs Deporting Asylum Seekers to Third Countries and Processing Claims Outside the EU

Germany once served as a brake on the EU’s most hardline anti-migration proposals. Now, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin is positioning itself to lead the bloc’s push for stricter migration policy.

Germany’s sharp shift on this issue may accelerate a broader rightward turn across the EU: the bloc is preparing to roll out a package of measures aimed at significantly reducing asylum applications and stepping up deportations. As discussions unfold, leaders from Europe’s toughest-line governments have welcomed Berlin’s new role. “Germany is playing a leading role in these crucial negotiations, and we welcome that,” said Denmark’s immigration minister, Kaare Dybvad.

A symbolic moment came when German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt convened his counterparts from Austria, Denmark, and Poland—countries known for their hardline stance—at the summit of Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, topped with a golden cross. “We want to make it clear that Germany is no longer in the backseat on migration. On the contrary, we’re now among those driving the agenda,” Dobrindt declared, speaking at nearly 3,000 meters.

The message was warmly received in Brussels. “If Germany is stepping up and becoming more engaged, that’s a very positive signal—it means we can move faster,” said EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, commenting on the outcome of the Alpine summit. He added that he welcomes Berlin’s direction and its active backing of Commission initiatives.

Germany’s readiness to lead on anti-migration policy removes one of the main obstacles that had previously blocked proposals considered politically untenable. Chief among them are plans to deport migrants to third countries and process asylum claims outside the EU—modeled after the UK’s failed Rwanda scheme, which Merz previously praised as “an example worth emulating.”

Although the migration shift began under the previous, more liberal government, Merz’s current coalition has embraced a tougher approach—responding to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), now the largest opposition force in the Bundestag. For the ruling conservatives, it’s a bid to prevent voter drift to the far right.

“For years, Germany was one of the key defenders of the EU’s postwar asylum system,” notes Ravenna Zost, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. “Now that it’s aligning with tougher countries, the center of gravity in European migration policy is shifting decisively to the right.”

Germany’s reorientation does not mean that Europe has reached a migration consensus. On the contrary, deep practical divisions persist.

Although EU countries reached a landmark agreement on asylum reform two years ago, key details required for implementation remain unresolved—the launch is not expected until next year. The most sensitive issues are still open: mandatory burden-sharing, relocation of asylum seekers among member states, and processing procedures conducted outside the EU’s borders.

On these matters, the interests of southern and northern member states diverge sharply. With Merz in power, Germany appears poised to more assertively advance its interpretation of national interest—aligned with Central and Northern Europe—even if that comes at the expense of others.

The previous government, led by Olaf Scholz, played a key role in trying to bridge the gap between countries like Greece and Italy—which pushed for greater European support amid rising migrant flows—and northern states, which aimed to stop onward movement of asylum seekers. Under Merz, Berlin is likely to side firmly with the latter and consistently defend its interests.

As experts note, it is telling that no representatives from southern countries were present at the Zugspitze summit organized by Germany’s interior minister. The symbolism speaks for itself.

“Germany still adheres to a pan-European approach, just as it did before,” says Ravenna Zost of the Migration Policy Institute. “But the Zugspitze summit illustrates how key alliances are forming within the EU—alliances capable of exerting greater influence over negotiations and advancing their positions in the Council. It’s a strategic move, especially given the choice of partners like France and Denmark, which currently holds the Council presidency.”

Merz’s willingness to prioritize national interests over European cohesion became evident almost immediately after his government took office: Germany sharply increased border controls, prompting criticism from neighbors—particularly Poland, which responded with reciprocal measures.

Germany’s turn toward a tougher migration policy comes at a time when the number of asylum seekers arriving in Europe is declining for various reasons—though it remains high by historical standards.

Fearing the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Merz’s coalition has introduced a series of controversial measures since taking power in May. These include suspending family reunification for hundreds of thousands of people, including refugees from Syria, and freezing a resettlement program for vulnerable Afghans.

“The rhetoric has become harsher, and so have the policies,” notes Victoria Rietig, a migration expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

However, deep divisions within the ruling coalition itself may undermine Merz’s ability to stay the course. Several lawmakers from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which governs alongside the conservatives, are skeptical of the chancellor’s anti-migration initiatives—despite having backed many of them during coalition negotiations.

Within the SPD, criticism has focused particularly on tightened border controls and the suspension of the Afghan resettlement program. “There isn’t a single member of the SPD parliamentary group who supports the security-driven provisions of the coalition agreement—especially those concerning migration,” said MP Rasha Nasr.

Migration is already emerging as a major fault line within the government, especially ahead of the fall parliamentary session. On the agenda: expanding the list of so-called “safe countries” eligible for deportations, and a proposal to revoke free legal assistance for migrants facing removal.

Internal resistance from the SPD could curb Merz’s ambitions not only domestically but also on the European stage, where he seeks to position himself as a leader of the hardline camp. “This is one of the coalition’s most contentious issues,” Rietig notes. “So it’s entirely possible that future EU migration decisions will once again be delayed.”