Merz sees non-EU countries as an option for asylum procedures

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Saturday that asylum procedures could be conducted in non-EU countries as a way to curb irregular migration to Europe.

Merz made his comments on his inaugural visit to Italy as chancellor. He referred to Italy’s attempt to do this by sending asylum seekers to Albania – a move that has been temporarily suspended by Italian courts.

“But this can, of course, still be an option,” he said after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The coalition in Rome, made up of three right-wing and conservative parties, initiated the move to process asylum applications for migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean in Albania. After that idea was repeatedly blocked by the Italian judiciary, the idea is now being reviewed by the European Court of Justice to see whether it complies with European law.

So far, the model has never been implemented successfully and the specially constructed camps in the non-EU country of Albania have remained largely empty for months.

Merz: “We will no longer stand on the brakes”
Merz stated that Germany would consider outsourcing asylum procedures despite Italy’s experiences. He acknowledged that this was “certainly not the solution to the problem” but said it could “help make the problem smaller.”

The chancellor also emphasized the need to swiftly implement European asylum reform and expand cooperation within the European Union to combat irregular migration.

“We will no longer be hitting the brakes when it comes to solving the problems in the European Union,” he said.