In a recent interview, the Green Party’s co-leader, Franziska Brantner, expressed her willingness to reach a consensus on the asylum issue, provided the Union makes concessions. Brantner told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that the Greens were and remain prepared to find common ground with democrats on the topic of migration, but that the Union’s demands were a major obstacle.
Brantner sharply criticized the Union’s proposal for permanent border closures, stating that such a move would have severe consequences, not only for commuters and trade flows, but also for the EU’s relationship with its neighboring countries. “We would be taking the wrath of other EU member states upon ourselves” she warned, adding that the EU’s external borders would become the responsibility of individual countries if the EU failed to uphold its rules.
Brantner also highlighted the economic benefits of European solidarity, emphasizing that Germany, as an export-oriented nation, would be particularly affected by a breakdown of the EU’s common market. “We should stand together, for example, to resist Trump’s tariff threats” she said, criticizing the Union’s apparent lack of foresight in this regard.
Instead of advocating for a hardline approach, Brantner appealed to the CDU and CSU to support the European asylum reform before the election. According to her, the reform would ensure that asylum procedures are handled at the EU’s external borders, making it possible to keep the EU’s internal borders open. “The CDU can still support this reform in the Bundestag next week” she said, leaving the door open for a possible agreement.