Germany is considering adopting a migration scheme similar to the one recently abandoned by Britain, which proposed deporting illegal migrants to Rwanda.
Joachim Stamp, Germany’s migration commissioner, announced on Thursday that Germany’s plan would target migrants entering through the European Union’s eastern border.
Over the past decade, Germany has welcomed millions of refugees, but the ruling coalition government is now facing increasing pressure to address irregular migration. This pressure has intensified following a deadly stabbing at a festival in Solingen last month, claimed by the Islamic State group, which has amplified far-right criticism of Germany’s migration policies.
Stamp indicated that Rwanda would be the most viable destination for illegal migrants under the proposed scheme, given that the UK’s facilities are still operational. However, unlike the British plan, Germany’s proposal would involve oversight by the United Nations.
In a podcast by Table Media, Stamp noted, “We currently have no third country that has come forward, with the exception of Rwanda,” and added that Rwanda has expressed a continued willingness to support this model.
Additionally, Stamp proposed revising the “connecting element” in the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which currently mandates that external asylum procedures be conducted in countries where the asylum seeker has a social connection.
In December of last year, the European Union agreed on new rules to manage irregular arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants. The deal, viewed as a significant breakthrough after nearly a decade of contentious negotiations, may not be fully implemented until the end of 2025.
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