Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has announced plans to declare a national emergency in response to the country’s migration challenges. According to reports by Die Welt, Merz, who was elected on Tuesday, intends to turn back illegal migrants at the border, signaling a significant shift in the country’s approach to asylum seekers. Germany has long been the top destination for asylum seekers within the European Union, with over 237,000 applications last year, accounting for a quarter of all applications across the 27-member bloc.
The German government has already informed the ambassadors of neighboring countries about the decision to impose a national emergency, which would enable the government to prioritize its own decisions over EU regulations. To achieve this, Berlin will invoke Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, focusing on maintaining law and order and safeguarding internal security. Germany shares a 3,700km land border with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands, all of which are part of the EU’s Schengen area. This area allows for passport-free travel for most EU citizens and many non-EU nationals, complicating border control efforts.
Newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized the government’s intention to control borders more strictly, leading to a higher number of rejections of asylum applications. The goal, Dobrindt explained, is to send a clear signal to the world and Europe that Germany’s policy has changed. In a move that underscores this shift, Dobrindt has instructed the head of the Federal Police to disregard a 2015 directive from former Chancellor Angela Merkel, which allowed over a million migrants into the country during the height of Europe’s refugee crisis.
This change in policy marks a significant departure from previous approaches and is likely to have far-reaching implications for both Germany and the European Union. As Germany moves to assert greater control over its borders and migration policies, it will be important to watch how these changes are implemented and how they impact the country and the region. The decision reflects a broader trend of European countries reevaluating their migration policies in response to internal and external pressures, highlighting the ongoing challenges and complexities of managing migration flows within the EU.