Berlin and Warsaw have reached a tentative resolution in a contentious dispute concerning the asylum status of several Somali nationals, with Poland now accepting responsibility for one of the individuals at the heart of the disagreement. This development, reported by Bild am Montag, throws a spotlight on the complexities of EU asylum procedures and the strain on bilateral relations.
The federal Interior Ministry confirmed that Poland has formally agreed to take over responsibility for one male Somali asylum seeker under the Dublin Regulation. The applicant’s asylum claim has been deemed inadmissible by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and a deportation order to Poland has been issued. The process will be managed by the state of Berlin.
However, the resolution remains partial. In two other cases – involving a second male and a female Somali national – Poland has rejected Germany’s requests for assumption of responsibility, despite remonstrations from the BAMF. The Interior Ministry emphasized that acceptance of responsibility requests is a standard procedure within the framework of the Dublin III Regulation.
The shift in Poland’s stance on this particular case has drawn cautious praise. Knut Abraham, the CDU’s coordinator for German-Polish relations, welcomed the move, stating, “More of this, please”. He believes it signifies the importance of successful collaboration between the two nations, even in challenging areas like migration management.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in implementing EU asylum policies and the reliance on bilateral agreements to navigate the process. While the acceptance of responsibility in one case is a minor victory in the current impasse, it occurs against the backdrop of rising political tensions surrounding migration and pressures on both Germany and Poland to manage asylum seeker flows.
The upcoming German-Polish government consultations, scheduled for December 1st in Germany, are expected to address these continuing issues as officials finalize the agenda involving the Chancellery, the Foreign Office and other relevant ministries. The willingness of Poland to engage, even selectively, may set a tone for these discussions, though the fundamental disagreements surrounding the equitable sharing of responsibilities within the EU asylum system remain unresolved.
