Germany’s aggressive new migration approach has led to a sharp decline in asylum applications, but at what cost? As Berlin celebrates a “migration turnaround,” critics warn that its policies violate EU law, harm vulnerable asylum seekers, and destabilize European cooperation. Neighboring countries like Poland are already responding, raising fears of a Schengen crisis.
Germany recorded a 43% drop in asylum applications in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. According to EU figures, only 65,495 applications were filed between January and June, placing Germany third behind Spain and France for asylum seekers.
Most applicants came from Afghanistan (22%), Syria (20%), and Turkey (11%). Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt hailed the numbers as proof of his “migration turnaround.” He credits stricter border controls and deals with North African countries for the decline.
However, critics argue that these restrictive measures have simply pushed asylum seekers elsewhere and risk breaching Germany’s obligations under EU law.
Germany’s unilateral border measures are straining relations with its neighbors. In direct response, Poland has announced it will reintroduce border controls, sparking fears of a domino effect in the Schengen Area. Poland introduced stationary controls on its border with Germany overnight into Monday. 52 checkpoints were set up.
For decades, Schengen has been the most tangible symbol of European unity: no passport checks, no queues, just seamless travel across 27 countries. But the Polish-German spat over migration shows how quickly that ideal can unravel when national governments play tit-for-tat with border policies.
Poland says its hand was forced. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s expansion of border checks and his order to summarily reject asylum seekers “at the fence” was not just legally questionable under EU law, it also risked turning Poland into a holding pen for rejected migrants. Warsaw’s response, as Prime Minister Donald Tusk framed it, was defensive: “If Germany abolishes its controls, we see no reason to continue ours.”
Green Party leader Britta Haßelmann criticized Berlin’s approach, warning: “Forty years after the Schengen Agreement, Friedrich Merz is causing immense damage to European unity.” The victims, she noted, are not only asylum seekers but also “millions of Europeans in border regions, commuters, and businesses” caught in the political crossfire. This escalation could trigger further restrictions across the EU, undermining free movement and European solidarity.
Germany’s pushbacks have left vulnerable people stranded. In May, three Somali asylum seekers were blocked at the Polish border and sent back without processing, despite asking for protection. A Berlin court later ruled this violated EU asylum law.
In July, an 18-year-old Afghan was trapped on a bridge between Poland and Germany as both countries refused him entry, leaving him in limbo. These incidents expose the human toll of Germany’s hardline migration policy.
Both governments are under domestic pressure. In Poland, newly elected President Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist, has pushed Tusk’s centrist government to adopt tougher migration stances. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces challenges from the far-right AfD and a resurgent CSU, eager to prove their hard line on borders.
This toxic mix of domestic politics risks undermining European solidarity.
Germany argues its controls are temporary, proportionate, and necessary to manage irregular migration. But critics see something more insidious: a slow normalization of border checks that could leave Schengen a hollow shell. “It’s a domino effect,” warned European Parliament Vice President Katarina Barley this week. “If one country introduces controls, others feel forced to follow.”
She’s right to be worried. Over the past decade, the EU has stumbled from one migration crisis to another. Each time, border closures have been the knee-jerk response. What’s different now is that Germany, long Schengen’s staunchest defender, is leading the rollback. This risks setting a precedent: if even Berlin is willing to override European law for short-term political gain, why shouldn’t others?
Germany’s pushbacks and border checks raise serious legal questions under EU law.
As Denmark assumes the EU’s rotating presidency, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has pledged to make migration a top priority. Copenhagen is pushing to externalize asylum procedures to third countries and restrict European Court of Human Rights rulings, arguing that “irregular migration cannot be allowed to threaten European cohesion.” Denmark’s hardline stance mirrors Berlin’s approach and reflects a broader shift in Europe towards stricter border controls and legal reinterpretations.
Germany’s migration crackdown has delivered a sharp drop in asylum applications but at significant political and humanitarian costs. The ripple effects are already visible, with Poland reinstating border controls and fears growing of a wider Schengen crisis. As Denmark takes over the EU presidency with a similar hardline approach, the bloc faces a critical test: can it balance national security concerns with its legal and moral obligations to protect asylum seekers?
The coming months will determine whether Europe moves toward unity and reform, or further fragmentation and discord on migration.
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