The German state of Hesse’s Minister President, Boris Rhein, has voiced support for the federal government’s plans to classify countries as “safe origin states” without requiring the involvement of the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) and Bundesrat (Federal Council). Rhein, of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), described the initiative as “a further important step in steering and limiting irregular migration” in an interview with the Tagesspiegel newspaper.
The proposal, formally introduced to parliament on Thursday by the black-red coalition government, aims to simplify asylum procedures for nationals of countries deemed safe. Rhein believes the designation serves as a signal to potential migrants, indicating that attempting the often-perilous journey to Germany is unnecessary as they will not be eligible for protection.
Previously, discussions at the Minister President conference have repeatedly advocated for an expansion of the list of safe origin states. Rhein emphasized that broadening this list is vital to address the significant challenges involved in integrating individuals with the right to remain in Germany.
However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism from the Green Party. Filiz Polat, parliamentary group secretary of the Greens, argued that the government’s approach undermines fundamental principles of the rule of law, alleging that the plan bypasses parliamentary oversight and concerns state participation. Polat stated that the involvement of constitutional bodies should be viewed as a legal obligation, not an inconvenience.
Within the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the decision has been defended. Dirk Wiese, SPD’s parliamentary group secretary, stated that classifying additional safe origin states is justified given the low approval rate for asylum applications. He highlighted that streamlining and accelerating these procedures would relieve pressure on the judiciary, local authorities and asylum seekers themselves, providing faster clarity regarding their status.