Migration: Refugees in the EU: Germany can demand relief

Brussels. For the coming year, Germany can also demand that it does not have to accept any additional refugees from other EU states or make any other additional contributions. This emerges from an analysis by the EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, which serves as a basis for negotiations for the distribution of the burden in the European asylum system between the member states.

Brunner said that Germany had taken on a lot of responsibility over many years and was continuing to do so. “The Commission will expressly take this into account and will once again lead to relief for Germany next year,” said the Austrian politician. The European migration transition is having an impact and illegal migration is continuing to decline sharply across Europe.

Germany has not yet made any contribution

The Common European Asylum System (GEAS) stipulates that countries that are particularly burdened are entitled to the solidarity of other EU states by accepting migrants or making a financial contribution. Solidarity can also be achieved by EU states supporting projects against illegal migration to third countries or by making material available.

Germany had not yet made any contributions to the so-called solidarity pool and instead argued that it had already taken care of a large number of asylum seekers in recent years for whom other EU states would actually be responsible. Because: In principle, the country in which those seeking protection arrive first is responsible. Nevertheless, in recent years many people have traveled on to Germany after arriving in Greece or Italy, for example.

The EU Commission also refers to these cases in this year's report, which takes into account the period from July 2025 to June 2026. It also states that, according to EU rules, the crediting of these transfers can replace other solidarity benefits.

EU report sees Germany in a risk group

In principle, Germany, together with countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands, is again included in a risk group in this year's analysis. According to the EU Commission, countries in this group could run the risk of coming under high “migration pressure” in the coming year. The reasons could be high arrival numbers or particular strain on the reception systems.

As long as this situation does not arise, these states must fundamentally show solidarity. However, like Germany, you can have the transfer of people seeking protection already taken into account in the current year.

Four EU countries can request support

In the opinion of the EU Commission, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus, on the other hand, continue to be so burdened by migration that they deserve support from other countries. The EU states that are likely to have to accept migrants from other countries or make other solidarity contributions under EU rules include countries such as Sweden, Portugal and Slovakia.

The solidarity mechanism introduced with Geas is intended to pacify a long-running dispute between the member states. While the states at the external borders have felt left alone with the large number of refugee arrivals in recent years, countries such as Germany and France have insisted on the rules of responsibility.

The member states must now negotiate the EU Commission's proposals for the so-called solidarity pool. They also received detailed figures, which the EU Commission is not making public for the time being in accordance with the regulation on asylum and migration management.