EU Commissioner Brunner announces controversial return system!

EU Commissioner Brunner announces controversial return system!

EU Commissioner Brunner is planning to introduce a new European return system to improve order in the asylum procedure. This announcement was met with sharp criticism from the liberal MEP Petra Steger, who sees the initiative as inadequate. In an interview with “Welt am Sonntag”, Steger explained that an effective system must consistently implement the Dublin rules. In her opinion, anyone who does not apply for asylum in the first EU country at the external border should be treated as an illegal migrant and deported in order to combat human trafficking. Steger also demands that development aid to countries that refuse to take back their illegal migrants should be canceled, otherwise the system would be doomed to failure. This criticism reflects the growing tensions within the EU as the debate over migration and asylum becomes more pressing.

The Dublin procedure and its relevance

The Dublin procedure, which applies in all EU member states and some other countries, regulates responsibility for asylum applications. It is intended to ensure that each application is only examined by one state in order to prevent secondary migration within Europe. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, after the application has been submitted, a personal interview will take place at an arrival center in order to clarify responsibility and examine any obstacles to deportation. If it turns out that another Member State is responsible, a takeover request is made. If the responsible authorities agree, the person concerned will be deported to this country. However, if this does not happen within set deadlines, Germany will assume responsibility for the application.

The discussion about Brunner's return system and the abusive asylum applications are viewed by many as inadequate. Steger criticizes that these plans only represent a “sedative pill for the population” while the actual problems remain unsolved. She sees the protection of the EU's external borders as essential to guarantee the identity and security of the European Union, as the continuous increase in illegal migrants raises serious questions about the integrity of the asylum system. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges facing the EU in the context of migration policy, while urgent action is required to draw a clear line on asylum and migration policy, and the Dublin procedure remains central to this discussion, as well as on BAMF explained.