The solidarity mechanism is intended to ease the burden on countries at the EU’s external borders when accepting refugees. But we are still far from reaching an agreement, reports Ulf Röller.
11/11/2025 | 1:03 min
Germany can request that it not accept additional migrants from other member states until the end of 2026 under a new EU solidarity mechanism. According to information from the German Press Agency, this emerged from EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner’s analysis of the so-called solidarity groups, which are intended to ease the burden on countries with high migration pressure as part of the EU’s asylum reform.
Therefore, Germany can rely on the fact that it has taken care of a large number of asylum seekers for which other EU countries are actually responsible.
There is almost no topic that divides Europe more than migration. In 2015 there was a culture of welcome, but since then the EU has taken a tougher approach to dealing with refugees.
May 16, 2024 | 45:19 min
There is high migration pressure in these countries
Therefore, other solidarity contributions such as cash or other benefits are not required from the German side. Theoretically, this could be provided by EU countries that are obliged to provide support and do not want to accept refugees.
In its analysis, the Commission classified Greece and Cyprus as well as Spain and Italy as countries that deserve solidarity from other EU countries in the coming year due to high migration pressures. Therefore, Greece and Cyprus are under pressure due to a disproportionate number of arrivals last year, while Spain and Italy are under pressure due to the large number of rescues at sea.
These countries may be exempt from solidarity obligations
Germany, along with countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands, is one of the group of countries at risk of experiencing high migration pressures in the coming year due to high numbers of arrivals or pressure on reception systems. According to the Commission’s assessment, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Croatia are in a severe migration situation.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) once again spoke out in favor of tightening the asylum system. “We want to further reduce migration pressures in Europe,” Dobrindt said.
September 3, 2025 | 7:39 min
This means that they can apply to be released in whole or in part from solidarity obligations based on the cumulative burden over the last five years.
How does Germany feel about the EU proposal?
ZDF correspondent Ulf Röller explains that “the EU Commission wants to achieve greater fairness in the distribution of migrants”. Countries on the outer borders that protect the borders will accept solidarity “in any case.” Röller estimates that the federal government is “not happy, but satisfied” with the proposal.
Of course, Germany also wants to be one of the countries like Italy and Spain that accepts solidarity, which asylum seekers or those who receive money can pass on.
Ulf Röller, ZDF correspondent
It is important for Berlin to take into account “the performance that Germany has delivered since 2015 in terms of migration. This means that Germany’s contribution to the solidarity fund is much lower.” However, the problem is that major compromises are required:
In fact, all EU countries argue that they have too many migrants. They want to give and not receive more – there will be many arguments about that.
Ulf Röller, ZDF correspondent
EU commissioner looks at impact of new migration policy
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said it was clear from the results of the analysis that Germany had already covered the bulk of this solidarity before the new asylum agreement came into force. Therefore, the Federal Republic would benefit significantly from reform of the asylum and migration system – in particular through new duties of member states at the external borders.
This includes registering new arrivals, carrying out security checks and new border procedures. The final rule stipulates that certain future migrants could be sent to tightly controlled reception centers after crossing the border in prison-like conditions.
Basically, Brunner emphasizes that stricter asylum policies are already starting to have an impact now.
Illegal migration fell 35 percent last year.
Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs
EU interior ministers want to further limit irregular migration. For example, rejected asylum seekers should be deported more quickly to their country of origin or a third country.
July 22, 2025 | 1:39 min
Member states discuss the EU Commission’s proposal
This report, which has been submitted for the first time, is considered a firm step in implementing the reform of the European Asylum System (CEAS), which also includes a solidarity mechanism to ease the burden on member states especially affected by migration.
Member states must now discuss the EU Commission’s proposal for so-called solidarity groups. They also received detailed figures that were not published by the EU Commission.
Source: dpa
