BERLIN – The German cabinet ratified the European Union’s asylum and migration reform on Wednesday, several months behind its ambitious timeline. But further delays are looming.
The controversial reform, passed by the EU in 2024, seeks to establish fast-track asylum procedures and a fairer distribution of refugees across the bloc. Hailed as a landmark step in pooling the EU’s efforts to curb irregular migration, EU countries have until mid-2026 to turn the pact’s provisions into national law.
Initially, Germany was keen to beat the EU’s deadline by some two years, even pushing to bring it forward for all members. But the collapse of the social-democrat-led government last year left the implementation into German law in limbo for months – and Berlin limping far behind its original timeline.
On Wednesday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt celebrated the cabinet’s decision as a sign that the current, conservative-led government “continues to lead on migration policy”.
But the draft still needs to go through the German parliament and the timeline remains is yet uncertain, according to one parliamentary source briefed on the matter.
Glacial speed
The previous coalition government, led by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, had already passed a draft in cabinet in November. However, only a few hours later, the government collapsed over a disagreement on fiscal policy and left the remaining minority government unable to pass the legislation in parliament.
The Christian Democrats – then in opposition – refused to supply votes to pass the draft, as they considered the draft too weak and claimed there was no rush.
Now leading the government, the Christian Democrats are in charge of bringing the implementation over the finish line. But they face a new set of struggles with the Social Democrats (SPD) – now the junior coalition partner. The government repeatedly postponed the cabinet’s ratification, as the SPD was reportedly concerned over Christian Democrat plans to make the original EU rules on migrant detention harsher and delay access to employment.
The SPD is prepared to take its time to closely examine the cabinet-approved draft in the upcoming parliamentary ratification process, the party’s lead MP on interior affairs, Sebastian Fiedler said. “Despite the need for swift implementation,“ he added.
(vib)
