Six legal challenges have been filed by asylum seekers contesting their rejection at the German border, according to a response from the Federal Interior Ministry in reply to an inquiry by “Stern” magazine.
In May, three Somali nationals successfully sued their rejection at the Berlin Administrative Court. The Ministry has now confirmed that a further three legal proceedings relating to the rejection of asylum seekers are currently ongoing.
The Berlin Administrative Court previously criticized the justification provided for the rejections. Following this criticism, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) pledged improvements. However, the Ministry indicated that these justifications will be presented in the main legal proceedings. A spokesperson stated, “We will submit the justification for invoking Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in the main proceedings.
Alexander Throm, the interior policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, commented to “Stern”, stating, “It is self-evident in our rule of law that courts can be appealed to. This was to be expected in the case of rejections. However, it is a fundamental question of European law that can only be clarified by the European Court of Justice.
Konstantin von Notz, deputy parliamentary group leader of the Green Party, voiced criticism, stating that the leading authority has yet to provide answers to key questions. He described the legal position as “tenuous” and urged Interior Minister Dobrindt to reconsider the rejections and provide the promised justifications, which he deemed long overdue.
