logo
Germany updates: Merz defiant after court blow – DW – 06/03/2025

Germany updates: Merz defiant after court blow – DW – 06/03/2025

DW03-06-2025
06/03/2025
June 3, 2025 Germany's Merz defends migration plans after legal setback on asylum
Merz said the ruling may narrow his administration's room for maneuver, but there was still wiggle room Image: Thilo Schmuelgen/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government's effort to turn away asylum seekers at the country's borders, one day after a court blocked the move.
The emergency decision by the Berlin Administrative Court was a blow for Merz, who has promised he will curb irregular migration.
Speaking in Berlin, the chancellor said the ruling may narrow his administration's room for maneuver, but there was still scope. "We know that we can still carry out [border] rejections."
Merz, who took office last month, said his government would "of course do this within the framework of existing European law."
"We will do so in order to protect public safety and order in our country and to prevent cities and municipalities from being overburdened," he added.
Merz stressed that Germany would have to "maintain controls on the internal" until the situation at the European Union's external borders has improved significantly in his view.
Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to beef up border checks and turn away irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum.
The court ruling on Monday found that three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9 should have been processed under the European Union's Dublin Regulation for asylum cases. The court found that the government's evidence to proclaim a "national emergency" to justify the measure lacked sufficient evidence.
Merz's immigration policies have been repeatedly criticized as violating both German and EU law.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'A Free Ukraine': Kyiv Protests Law Threatening Anti-corruption Bodies
'A Free Ukraine': Kyiv Protests Law Threatening Anti-corruption Bodies

Int'l Business Times

timean hour ago

  • Int'l Business Times

'A Free Ukraine': Kyiv Protests Law Threatening Anti-corruption Bodies

At a rare protest in central Kyiv demonstrators rallied Wednesday against a law that curbs the power of anti-corruption agencies, warning the fight for Ukraine's democracy was taking place both on the battlefield and at home. The legislation, removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparked the first major protests in Ukraine since it began fighting off the Russian invasion over three years ago. "Our struggle takes place on two fronts. Our main enemy is external, but we have an internal battle too," said protester Viacheslav Bykov. "We don't want Ukraine to be part of Russia, we don't want a corrupt or authoritarian Ukraine. We want a free Ukraine," he added. Several thousand demonstrators -- mostly young -- gathered outside a theatre in Kyiv, calling for a veto to the law passed by Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday. The law places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. Critics say the legislation would facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes and threatens the independence of key institutions in Ukraine. Zelensky responded to the backlash on Wednesday evening, saying he would submit a new bill ensuring "all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place". Kyiv's partners had reacted with alarm, including European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, who the EU said demanded explanations from Zelensky over the change. Civil society groups warn the bill is part of a broader pattern of pressure on anti-corruption activists and bodies. Some European allies worry the moves will undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union -- a fear shared by many protesting on Wednesday. "We've worked for years to move closer to Europe... only to be thrown back 10 years in a single day," said protester Anya Kutsevol. Ukraine's two anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, were born a decade ago in the wake of the 2014 Maidan revolution. Those pro-European protests, centred on Kyiv's main square, also called Maidan, ousted a Kremlin-backed leader who scrapped a key partnership agreement with the EU. The Kremlin, which refused to accept Ukraine's democratic turn toward Europe, then launched a first assault over Ukraine that led Moscow-backed separatists to occupy Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region. "Ukraine is Europe," Kutsevol said, "we won't be returned to Russia. We'll keep fighting for Europe." Some fear that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity within the country, which is struggling to hold the front. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov seized on the opportunity to say there was "a lot of corruption" in Ukraine. "If I were Russia, I would do the same," said another protester, Yevgen Popovychenko, convinced Moscow would try to exploit the protests. He was holding a banner that read: "Don't take me back" to the years of Maidan, where he took to the streets as a 21-year-old. As he stood in the crowd, he said he was having flashbacks from Maidan, a feeling shared by his friends. But many other protestors were only children during the famed 2014 demonstrations -- including 25-year-old Kutsevol. "When tyres were still burning, I was 14. What good was I?" she said. Wednesday's was her first political protest, and she teared up looking at people gathered around her for the second day in a row, despite martial law banning large gatherings. She vowed to keep defending Ukraine's democracy. "We're adults now. Now it's our turn." Critics say the law threatens the independence of key institutions AFP A protester says 'Ukraine is not Mordor', likening Moscow to the fictional dark realm AFP The pro-European Maidan protests took place a decade ago AFP

EU Leaders Poised For Thorny Talks In China Summit
EU Leaders Poised For Thorny Talks In China Summit

Int'l Business Times

timean hour ago

  • Int'l Business Times

EU Leaders Poised For Thorny Talks In China Summit

EU bosses Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa are in Beijing on Thursday for talks with top Chinese leaders over areas of friction from trade to the Ukraine war -- with low hopes of a breakthrough on any front. Beijing has sought to draw the European Union closer as it positions itself as a more reliable partner than the United States and a bedrock of stability in a troubled world. But the EU has made clear it will confront deep divisions over trade, fears that cheap, subsidised Chinese goods could overwhelm European markets and Beijing's tacit support for Russia's war against Ukraine. Though nominally intended to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, the long list of grievances set the stage for a contentious summit. Brussels has pitched Thursday's talks between its top bosses and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang as "a clear opportunity for detailed, frank, substantive actions around all aspects of our relationship". "We know that we don't see eye to eye with China on many issues," a senior EU official told AFP last week. "But we believe that it is essential to have this kind of very direct and open and constructive conversation sitting at the table at the highest level." Top of the agenda for the EU is the yawning trade deficit with China that stood at $357 billion last year and which von der Leyen has described as "unsustainable". Beijing has dismissed those concerns, insisting that Brussels must "rebalance its mentality" not its economic ties with China. Von der Leyen has also said Brussels will demand that China eases market access for European companies and loosens export controls on strategically crucial rare earths. The EU has imposed hefty tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, arguing that Beijing's industrial subsidies unfairly undercut European competitors. China has rebuffed that claim and announced what were widely seen as retaliatory probes into imported European pork, brandy and dairy products. A second key source of friction is Russia's war in Ukraine -- Brussels says China's deepening political and economic relations with Russia since the 2022 invasion represent tacit support for Moscow that have helped its economy weather sweeping Western sanctions. Last week, the bloc adopted a sweeping new package of sanctions on Russia over the war -- including on two Chinese banks, leading Beijing's commerce minister to issue "solemn representations" to his EU counterpart. "This is a core issue for Europe," the senior EU official said. "We know that Chinese companies supply around 80 percent of the dual-use goods to the war," they said, referring to goods with nominally civilian uses but which can also have military applications. "We're not naive. We're not asking China to cut relations, but to step up the customs and financial controls." Beijing said this week ties with the bloc were at a "pivotal juncture" as both economic giants contend with an aggressive US trade strategy under President Donald Trump. "Against the backdrop of increasing international turbulence, rising unilateralism, and rampant protectionism", the summit "serves the interests not only of both parties, but also of the whole world", foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. Brussels has sought to temper expectations but pointed to areas like climate where it wants China to do more but where cooperation is seen as more feasible. "The EU doesn't expect breakthroughs from this summit but sees it as a chance to keep communication channels open with Chinese leaders while it works to carve out its geopolitical role and reduce critical dependencies," Marta Mucznik, senior EU analyst at the International Crisis Group, said. Other analysts agree that concrete progress on any of the hot-button issues is unlikely. "We should expect a very difficult moment," Abigael Vasselier of the MERICS think tank told a briefing this week. "This summit is not going to change the course of Europe-China relations, which is one of deterioration due to structural issues," she said. "Europe needs to be ready for a long-term struggle and probably needs to rethink its China strategy at this stage."

US-EU Tariff Talks Progress As Trump Announces Japan Deal
US-EU Tariff Talks Progress As Trump Announces Japan Deal

Int'l Business Times

time2 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

US-EU Tariff Talks Progress As Trump Announces Japan Deal

United States and European officials signaled progress in tariff talks Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump announced a pact with Japan and China said its vice premier would attend bilateral negotiations next week. In an attempt to slash his country's trade deficits, Trump has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariff hikes if they do not hammer out a pact with Washington by August 1. While the Trump administration earlier promised "90 deals in 90 days" as it delayed the imposition of higher duties in April, Washington has so far unveiled just five agreements including with Japan and the Philippines. The others are with Britain, Vietnam and Indonesia, the latter of which the White House noted would ease critical mineral export restrictions. Negotiations remain ongoing with major US trading partners China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Washington and Brussels signaled negotiations were moving along, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voicing optimism that "decisions" may be coming soon. Several EU diplomats added that the bloc was examining a US proposal involving a 15 percent tariff -- and sectoral carve-outs still to be decided. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic was expected to speak with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Wednesday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, told Bloomberg Television: "I think that we are making good progress with the EU." Separately, representatives from China and the United States will meet next week in Swedish capital Stockholm to further negotiations before an August 12 deadline agreed in May. Beijing and Washington imposed tit-for-tat levies on each other's exports this year, reaching triple-digit levels, before agreeing to lower these temporarily until mid-August. As the clock ticks down, China said Wednesday it would seek to "strengthen cooperation" with Washington, and confirmed vice premier He Lifeng would attend the talks. For now, Trump was touting Washington's agreement with Japan as "a massive deal." He said on his Truth Social platform Tuesday that under the deal, "Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits." Bessent told Bloomberg Television that Japan received a 15 percent tariff rate, down from the 25 percent threatened, as "they were willing to provide this innovative financing mechanism." "They are going to provide equity credit guarantees and funding for major projects in the US," Bessent said. Japanese exports to the United States were already subject to a 10 percent tariff, and this would have spiked to 25 percent come August 1 without a deal. Duties of 25 percent on Japanese autos -- an industry accounting for eight percent of Japanese jobs -- were also already in place, plus 50 percent on steel and aluminum. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said the autos levy had now been cut to 15 percent, sending Japanese car stocks soaring, with Toyota and Mitsubishi up around 14 percent each. The Nikkei rose 3.5 percent. "We are the first (country) in the world to reduce tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, with no limits on volume," he told reporters. Japan's trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa, who secured the deal on his eighth visit to Washington, said the 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum would remain. Akazawa also said increased defense spending by Japan -- something Trump has pressed for -- was not part of the agreement. Trump added Tuesday that Japan agreed as well to "open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things." Rice imports are a sensitive issue in Japan, and Ishiba's government -- which lost its upper house majority in elections on Sunday -- had previously ruled out any concessions. Japan currently imports 770,000 tons of rice tariff-free under its World Trade Organization commitments, and Ishiba said it would import more US grain within this. Ishiba said Wednesday that the deal does not "sacrifice" Japan's agricultural sector. Tatsuo Yasunaga, the chair of the Japan Foreign Trade Council, welcomed the trade deal but said the business community needed to see details to assess its impact. Other US trading partners are watching closely as the August 1 deadline approaches. The Philippines' deal announced Tuesday only saw levies cut by one percentage point, to 19 percent, after Trump hosted President Ferdinand Marcos. China on Wednesday said it supported "equal dialogue" following the announcement of the Japan-US deal.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store