Overview

• Designated ministers Thorsten Frei and Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that intensified border controls and asylum seeker returns will begin on the first day of the new government’s term, May 6.
• Poland and Austria oppose the measures, citing disruptions to the Schengen Area’s free movement and legal requirements for asylum processing under EU law.
• The German police union warns of insufficient staffing and resources to sustain permanent border controls, raising concerns about operational feasibility.
• The coalition plans to terminate voluntary migrant admission programs and review Afghan resettlement guarantees, potentially revoking prior commitments.
• Uncertainty surrounds Germany’s coordination with neighbors, as the coalition agreement’s requirement for consultation has not secured clear approval from Poland or Austria.