EU Commission Report: Germany Lags Behind in Asylum Reform

The European Union is set to implement significant reforms in its asylum and migration policies starting June 12. This reform, known as Geas, has been the subject of intense negotiations within the EU for several years. The primary goal is to manage and reduce migration effectively. Key aspects of the reform include a more equitable distribution of refugees among member states and expedited asylum processing procedures. Additionally, the reform aims to prevent secondary migration, which refers to the movement of asylum seekers from one EU country to another. EU Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, emphasized that this reform will significantly enhance the protection of the EU's external borders and introduce the most advanced border management system in the world. However, as the implementation date approaches, Germany, traditionally a primary destination for refugees, is falling behind in its preparations. A report from the Brussels authority highlights that while legislative reforms have been swiftly completed, there are still substantial gaps in the necessary technical infrastructure and training for border officials. This is particularly critical for asylum procedures at airports, where urgent capacity building is required. In contrast, 15 other EU states have utilized the past two years since the reform's approval to implement the necessary measures. The EU Commission has also raised concerns about the backlog in processing asylum applications in Germany. The federal government has acknowledged this issue and has been receiving support from the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) to address it. The success of the reform heavily relies on the cooperation of states at the EU's external borders. However, countries like Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy, which experience the highest rates of irregular border crossings, are reported to face significant challenges in meeting the reform's requirements. The report indicates a lack of necessary capacities in nearly all areas. Despite these challenges, Commissioner Brunner remains optimistic about the reform's success. He noted that nearly all member states have already adapted their systems to align with the new EU asylum and migration framework. While not everything will function seamlessly from the outset, considerable progress has been made. Brunner pointed to recent statistics from Eurostat, which indicate that the EU's external borders are better protected than before, with improved cooperation with third countries leading to a significant decrease in illegal border crossings. In 2025, over 130,000 third-country nationals were denied entry at the EU's external borders, marking a seven percent increase compared to 2024.