Germany proposes ‘cellular’ migration model to reduce asylum applications

Refugees will have their movement within the European Union significantly restricted under a new model proposed by Germany’s coalition government.

Christoph Hoffmann, Liberal MP FDP partystated that this proposal would significantly reduce the number asylum seekers reaching Germany.

The plan aims to divide parts of the European Union into parts, or “honeycombs,” with refugees only allowed to move between one or two parts once they arrive.

For example, Ukrainian refugees those entering the EU via Poland will be allowed to claim asylum in Germany but will not be able to travel further, while refugees entering the EU via Spain or Italy will be allowed to claim asylum in southern Europe.

The model is designed to ensure that EU member states have sole responsibility for refugees in their region and prevent refugees from moving on to the EU country in which they would prefer to live.

Speaking to German tabloid Bild, Hoffman suggested the cellular model would deter large numbers of asylum seekers from trying to reach Germany.

“Anyone who travels through numerous safe third countries does not have the right to seek asylum in Germany,” the FDP lawmaker said.

“The current law on asylum is no longer relevant. Streams of migrants from other regions of the world, such as North Africa, the Middle East and even South America, are sweeping our country. Therefore, regional responsibility is essential,” he added.

This proposal must be agreed with European Commission in Brussels and approved by other EU Member States.

It was not immediately clear how far the FDP’s plan had progressed or whether it had even been endorsed by its coalition colleagues, the Greens and the center-left SPD.

The scheme is intended to replace the EU’s Dublin Convention, which requires asylum seekers to make an application in the first state they enter, but is rarely enforced.

As a result, many refugees simply transit through eastern EU member states and apply for asylum in prosperous western states such as Germany and France.

“The flow of migrants into (Germany) must stop. The Dublin system appears to have failed and needs to be replaced. We need a modern EU asylum model. The “cellular model” can finally effectively limit refugee migration to Germany,” Katja Adler, another FDP MP, told Bild.

Germany is making major reforms to its refugee and migration policies in the wake of the Syrian conflict. Failed asylum seeker kills three people at music festivall in the western city of Solingen in August.

This includes the so-called “Bed, Bread and Soap” Policy this would reduce to an absolute minimum benefits for migrants in Germany if they are already registered as asylum seekers in other European countries.

The Telegraph reported last week that Germany also plans to increase the number of asylum seekers it can detain in airport transit areas, giving Berlin more control over who it allows into the country.

Earlier in September, the government introduced passport controls at all land border crossings in Germany to achieve the same goal.