Speaking to the Funke media group on 23 May, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) said he aims to seal agreements within 2026 for EU-backed “return centres” in third countries. The facilities—modelled on proposals by Denmark and the UK—would house migrants whose asylum claims are rejected or deemed inadmissible, even if their home country refuses to take them back. Dobrindt confirmed talks with Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece as well as with potential host states outside Europe. He argued the centres would “demonstrate that arrival in Germany does not automatically mean a right to stay,” and pledged to increase deportations, including to Syria and Afghanistan for certain categories such as criminal offenders. The comments come amid heated domestic debate. Parliamentary motions from the Greens and Left to scrap pushbacks at internal borders were rejected earlier this month, and courts have questioned the legality of prolonged Schengen border checks. NGOs warn offshore processing risks violating non-refoulement obligations, while business groups fear talent shortages could worsen if the political climate deters skilled migrants. For global-mobility teams the key takeaway is potential volatility in removal and voluntary-return programmes. Companies employing third-country nationals whose asylum cases fail may face abrupt work-authorisation cancellations. Advisers recommend contingency plans, including exploring skilled-worker residence permits where eligibility exists. At EU level the proposal dovetails with the new Asylum and Migration Pact entering into force in June 2026, which allows joint processing at external borders. Whether Germany can line up willing partner countries and satisfy human-rights benchmarks by December remains uncertain, but the initiative signals a tougher enforcement stance that mobility managers should monitor closely.
Source: DIE ZEIT
