Dispute in Germany – More and more countries are tightening their asylum policies

Our neighbouring countries are currently debating how to reduce the number of migrants and how to more consistently deport rejected asylum seekers. There is still a dispute between the government and the opposition, but Germany is already a latecomer. Much of what is only being discussed in Germany has already been implemented in Austria.

In Switzerland, asylum seekers’ mobile phones will be searched from next year. Computers and other data storage media may also have to be handed over to the authorities. The aim of the new regulation is to better establish the identity, nationality and travel route of asylum seekers. This information is crucial for determining who will receive protection in Switzerland. A similar regulation has been in place in Austria for a long time.

Deportation instead of the right to stay
In most countries, restrictions have been tightened as a result of electoral successes for right-wing parties. This was also the case in the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders almost doubled his votes and came in first with more than 23 percent. Border controls have been tightened there and rejected asylum seekers are being deported more quickly and without compromise.

In addition, the ‘bed, bath, bread’ rule, according to which rejected asylum seekers continued to have a roof over their heads and food, will be abolished. Instead, the government wants to deport rejected applicants more consistently. The coalition agreement also includes an opt-out clause, whereby the Netherlands reserves the right to ignore EU asylum rules.

Denmark has particularly strict rules
Denmark has long been tough on migrants. However, since the 1990s, the country has been able to deviate from EU asylum policy through a special arrangement. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has proclaimed the motto ‘Zero Asylum’. Denmark was the only EU country to declare Syria a safe country of origin and to announce deportations. So far, however, not a single refugee has returned.

Copenhagen consistently implements other measures. Asylum seekers must stay in collective housing until their applications are decided. Relatively wealthy Denmark also pays relatively low benefits. Moreover, when urban areas become overcrowded, migrants are forcibly relocated.

Sweden was the most liberal country in Europe for many years
Sweden, which for a long time had the most liberal asylum policy in Europe, has also made a course correction. Family reunification has become more difficult, border protection has been strengthened and deportations are carried out more consistently. The number of asylum seekers has fallen by a third.

In Italy too, the fight against illegal migration is the top issue for the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In the future, certain asylum applications will be processed in Albania, where the migrants will also be received. But the project has been postponed time and again in recent times.

Course correction also in France
Newly appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier recently announced a tougher line in immigration policy. The rejections at German national borders demanded by the German CDU would not only affect Austria, but also France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was surprised by Germany’s announcement. He was “surprised” by the “somewhat improvised way” in which the German federal government’s new approach to border controls was communicated to the public.