A new Dublin Center in Eisenhüttenstadt aims to streamline the return of asylum seekers to their initial EU countries of entry, featuring separate sections for unaccompanied women and families as well as men. Despite the Dublin Agreement’s requirements, many asylum seekers evade return due to overwhelmed host countries and procedural delays. Life in the center includes limited provisions, and success depends on the collective participation of all EU nations, prompting calls for a restructuring of the Dublin system.
The Launch of Dublin Centers: Aiming for Efficient Asylum Processes
A new ‘Dublin Center’ is set to open at the Central Foreigners Authority in Eisenhüttenstadt, aiming to facilitate the swift return of asylum seekers to their respective EU countries. This facility will feature two distinct sections: one designated for unaccompanied women and families, while the other will accommodate unaccompanied men. It is projected that approximately 150 individuals will reside here.
The term ‘Dublin cases’ refers to asylum seekers who enter EU nations that are signatories to the Dublin Agreement. This includes all EU member states and associated countries like Norway and Switzerland. According to the agreement, individuals must submit their asylum applications in the country where they first arrive. They cannot simply choose to move to a different nation of their preference.
However, in practice, many asylum seekers do just that. For instance, a person may arrive in Greece but decide to apply for asylum in Germany or potentially in both countries. Ideally, these individuals should be promptly returned to their initial host countries. Unfortunately, the execution of this process often falls short.
Data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in 2024 underscores this issue, revealing that Germany made around 75,000 requests to other Dublin member states for the transfer of refugees. Most requests were directed towards Greece, followed by Croatia. While countries accepted approximately 44,000 of these requests, less than 6,000 people were actually returned.
Challenges in the Dublin System
The reluctance of certain countries to accept refugees stems from their existing capacity limits. For example, nations like Greece and Italy are often overwhelmed. Compounding the issue, many deadlines for return procedures are frequently missed, and sometimes conditions are deemed unsuitable, such as the inadequate accommodations in Greek tent camps.
Moreover, there is a risk that refugees may go underground to evade deportation back to their arrival countries. The Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior highlights a concerning trend known as the revolving door effect: around 40 percent of those transferred return to Germany shortly after. In some cases, individuals re-enter the entire asylum process, including judicial reviews. In transfers to certain neighboring countries, the return rate can soar to 70 percent, according to the Ministry.
Life Within the Dublin Center
At the newly established ‘Dublin Center’ in Eisenhüttenstadt, asylum seekers who have crossed from Poland into Germany will be housed under centralized management. They will remain there until their future is determined, with the aim of accelerating the decision-making process in collaboration with Polish authorities. Ideally, this process should not exceed two weeks, allowing for swift returns. Enhanced coordination between state authorities and BAMF is expected to streamline these proceedings.
Residents of the ‘Dublin Center’ will face strict residency obligations and will not receive the standard benefits afforded to asylum seekers. As explained by Brandenburg’s Minister of the Interior, SPD politician Katrin Lange, the provisions are limited to ‘bread, bed, and soap.’ Consequently, life in the center comes with significant constraints for the refugees.
The Union and SPD parties hold differing perspectives on legal matters related to migration. What lies ahead for these asylum seekers remains uncertain.
The Need for Collective Participation
The Eisenhüttenstadt center marks the second ‘Dublin Center’ in Germany, following the one in Hamburg. However, this facility uniquely focuses on asylum seekers who have entered Germany via Poland.
For these centers to succeed, all EU member states must actively participate. This will undoubtedly pose a challenge. Brandenburg’s Minister Lange asserts that a comprehensive restructuring of the Dublin system is necessary. While the ‘Dublin Center’ aims to expedite transfer processes, expectations for miraculous outcomes should be tempered.