High above the Alps on Germany's highest peak, interior ministers from six European Union countries gathered on the Zugspitze to chart a new course for migration policy. Their joint declaration sets out a clear agenda: curb irregular migration, reinforce return procedures, and safeguard the EU's external borders.
Ministerial hosts from Germany, France, Poland, Austria, Denmark and the Czech Republic underscored the need for effective returns to maintain public trust in a balanced migration framework. They called on the European Commission to step up with sufficient funding for border management, noting that strong financial backing is key to any sustainable solution.
The ministers also highlighted that large influxes of irregular migrants strain national asylum systems and can fuel smuggling networks. Their plan includes coordinated crackdowns on migrant smuggling and human trafficking, alongside streamlined procedures for processing and returning unauthorized arrivals.
The gathering coincided with Germany's recent deportation of 81 Afghan nationals—the second group returned since the Afghan interim administration took power in August 2021, and the first under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This move underscores a broader push for more effective and expedited return operations across the bloc.
For digital nomads, entrepreneurs and travelers eyeing Europe's vibrant markets, clearer migration rules could streamline talent mobility and preserve the spirit of an interconnected, border-spanning region.
As the EU looks to balance humanitarian obligations with security and economic considerations, this Zugspitze declaration marks a decisive step toward a tougher, more unified approach to migration—one designed to resonate from Brussels to Budapest and beyond.
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European interior ministers vow tougher migration policy across bloc
cgtn.com
