German Federal Minister of the Interior: European Court of Justice should clarify the issue of rejections

Berlin – The German Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt insists on increased border controls and wants the European Court of Justice to decide on the controversial rejections.

The Administrative Court of Berlin had determined last week in an urgent decision that the rejection of three Somalis at a border control at Frankfurt (Oder) station was unlawful. They could not be rejected without clarification of which EU state was responsible for the asylum application of the affected individuals. The three Somalis are now back in Berlin.

The Berlin Administrative Court noted in its recent decision that the justification for the application of Article 72 – an exception rule in European law – was not sufficient, Dobrindt told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “We will provide a sufficient justification, but the European Court of Justice should decide on that.”

Dobrindt further stated: “I am convinced that we are operating within European law with our measures.” The migration turnaround must also be brought about to prevent political forces like the right-wing populist AfD from being able to implement radical solutions. However, he would “of course” accept a possible veto from the European Court of Justice against rejections, said the Interior Minister.

Dobrindt had ordered more intensive controls at the German borders on May 7. At the same time, he instructed that asylum seekers should also be able to be rejected at the border in the future. The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently stated that he would continue to support the rejection of asylum seekers at the border even after the Administrative Court’s decision. (June 8)