Interior Minister Karner in action: talks to combat migration!

Interior Minister Karner in action: talks to combat migration!

An important meeting of the interior ministers of Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein will take place in Krems on April 28th and 29th, 2025. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has only extended an invitation to this meeting, with the fight against illegal migration and measures against terrorism and extremism being the central topics of the working discussions. This conference aims to promote better cooperation in the field of internal security, particularly in relation to cross-border threats.

The press conference following the meetings is scheduled for April 29, 2025 at 12 p.m. in the Steigenberger Krems conference hotel. Media representatives who would like to take part in the conference must be accredited beforehand. For accreditation, journalists can contact Ministerial Councilor Markus Haindl.

Current developments in EU border protection measures

In the context of these discussions, recent developments at EU level are of great importance. In April 2024, the EU Parliament approved a new border procedure for asylum decisions, which is to be carried out directly at the EU's external borders. The aim of this procedure is to quickly review asylum applications, especially for people who entered the country irregularly or are seeking asylum after being apprehended at sea. Particular attention is paid to the threat to national security and origin from countries in which less than 20% of asylum applications are approved.

The procedure stipulates that rejected asylum seekers must be sent back within twelve weeks, and asylum seekers are not allowed to enter the EU country during the border process. MEPs have also called for unaccompanied minors not to be included in the border process unless they pose a security risk.

Reform of asylum and migration policy

In addition, significant reforms within the EU asylum and migration package were also adopted in April 2024, which were approved with a majority of 322 to 266 votes. These reforms include, among other things, a revision of the Dublin rules on determining the Member State responsible for asylum applications and the introduction of a mechanism to respond to sudden increases in migration. The new rules are intended to enable faster processing of asylum applications at the EU borders and establish a uniform standard for the recognition of refugees and subsidiary protection.

Member States are also called upon to ensure equivalent standards for the reception of asylum seekers. Interestingly, asylum seekers who submit an application can start work no later than six months after submitting their application. These reforms aim to develop a more humane and efficient asylum policy within the EU.

These developments in connection with migration and asylum policy are the focus of the talks in Krems, where the interior ministers of the German-speaking countries will meet to work together on solutions. Security awareness in Europe goes hand in hand with the need to create humane conditions for asylum seekers.