European interior ministers from six countries met atop Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze, on Friday, issuing a joint declaration aimed at tightening migration policies across the European Union.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work together to reduce irregular migration effectively. They emphasized that ensuring effective returns of migrants is essential for maintaining public trust in a balanced European migration policy.
Highlighting the importance of securing the EU’s external borders, the ministers called on the European Commission to provide sufficient funding to bolster border protection efforts.
“Large numbers of irregular migrants place significant strain on our national asylum systems,” the declaration stated. “We pledge stronger and more coordinated efforts to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking.”
The meeting was hosted by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and attended by his counterparts from France, Poland, Austria, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner was also present.
According to Germany’s Interior Ministry, the gathering at the Zugspitze aimed to chart a course toward a tougher European migration policy and set an agenda to accelerate migration reform across the continent.
In a related move, Germany deported 81 Afghan nationals on Friday. This marks the second group deportation since the Afghan interim government assumed power in August 2021 and the first such action under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration.
