EU's Common European Asylum System Takes Effect: What It Means for Asylum Seekers

New Rules at EU Borders

After years of preparation, one of the most significant reforms to asylum law in Germany and the entire European Union takes effect this Friday. The new Common European Asylum System (CEAS) will require that asylum seekers undergo a mandatory preliminary screening at the EU's external borders, in an attempt to speed up procedures for people coming from countries with low rates of acceptance of asylum applications.

This means that asylum seekers from countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Nigeria will be subjected to fast-track border procedures in camps that are largely closed off. According to Eurostat, fewer than 20% of asylum seekers from these and dozens of other countries have their rights to asylum recognized.

Expert Doubts on Effectiveness

Gerald Knaus, an immigration expert and founder of the think tank "European Stability Initiative", doubts that this will work. He notes that it will still be tough to deport people to their home countries, as rejected asylum seekers will likely just move on to another EU country. "Actually, it has always been the case that the countries where asylum seekers arrive first are responsible for processing their applications. It just hasn't worked out that way. Why should it work now?" he asks.

Who Goes Through Border Procedures?

According to the European Commission, the largest groups of asylum seekers in 2025 came from Afghanistan and Syria. The asylum recognition rate for people from these two countries is over 20%. Consequently, individuals from these countries do not go through border procedures but rather through regular asylum procedures. Responsibility for these procedures also lies with the countries of first entry.

Knaus points out that although Germany and Austria do not lie on the EU's external border, more than half of all successful asylum applications in the EU within the last 10 years were granted in these countries. He believes that this will remain unchanged and that the numbers will be influenced more by developments in the asylum seekers' countries of origin than by EU law.

Germany's Plans and Challenges

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt believes that the new CEAS rules will make it easier for Germany to transfer asylum seekers to the country where they first entered the EU. To ease the burden on these countries, the CEAS stipulates that other EU member states must show "mandatory solidarity" by taking over the processing of asylum seekers' cases. It is unclear how this will work in practice, but the European Commission has been tasked with coordinating the process. Poland and Hungary have previously refused to participate on principle.

Meanwhile, Germany does not intend to accept any asylum seekers this year because it is overburdened, said its Interior Ministry. To facilitate the return of asylum seekers from Germany to the EU countries responsible for them, the federal government plans to set up "return centers" across the German states. However, at the moment, there are only two such centers, one in Hamburg and one in Eisenhüttenstadt. According to an agreement between EU member states and the European Parliament, at some point it should also be possible to deport unsuccessful asylum seekers from the European Union to third countries. Centers termed "return hubs" are to be built for this purpose there, but at the moment, these only exist on paper.

Border Controls and Future Outlook

The number of first-time asylum applications has been falling significantly in Europe and Germany for the past two years — something Interior Minister Dobrindt attributes to the comprehensive border controls implemented by Germany and nine other EU member states. But the European Commission has called on Germany to gradually phase out these controls now that the new CEAS has come into force. Dobrindt, however, insists on the necessity of continuing border controls to avoid sending wrong signals.

For Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), the EU asylum reform meant a great deal of work. Data processing and workflows had to be brought into line with the more complex legislation, and many employees needed training. The European Commission recently noted in a report that Germany does not yet meet the CEAS requirements in some areas, nor do many others, including countries such as Greece and Italy. EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said that the introduction of the CEAS reform on June 12 was the beginning of the journey, not the end.