Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser sees new phase in German deportation policy following trip to Syria
In an interview with the Berlin Playbook Podcast of POLITICO, outgoing Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) expressed her belief that Germany is entering a new phase in its deportation policy following her recent trip to Syria. Faeser stated that the return of rejected asylum seekers could soon become a reality: “With this trip, we have laid the groundwork.”
Faeser described the trip as a success, noting that she was able to establish important contacts, including with the Syrian government: “This has been achieved through this trip” Faeser said. “We have established contact points at the working level and also at the ministerial level. And we have received the commitment from Syria to help us with the provision of substitute documents and the issuance of papers.”
Looking back on her tenure, Faeser highlighted progress in migration policy: “I believe that the migration turnaround has already been achieved, as we have already reduced irregular migration by 50 percent, or even 55 percent since 2023.” This achievement, according to Faeser, is the result of numerous measures that will continue beyond the current coalition agreement.
At the same time, Faeser warned the incoming federal government against taking national initiatives in border protection. “I would like to emphasize once again that since the end of 2023, we have already carried out 53,000 rejections at our borders” Faeser said. “These are legally permissible under EU law and only successful through close cooperation with neighboring countries: “Just to reiterate, the better we cooperate with neighboring countries, the more successful the rejections will be.