Asylum policy | Number of first-time asylum applications has fallen significantly

The number of initial asylum applications in Germany declined significantly in the first seven months of the year. From January to July, authorities registered 70,011, as the Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed in response to a report by "Bild am Sonntag." This was a 50 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. Last year, there were 140,783 applications from January to July.

After the coalition government took office in early May, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) ordered increased controls and rejections at all nine German land borders with neighboring countries. According to Federal Police figures released Friday, 9,506 people were rejected by the end of July.

According to a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 8,293 initial applications for asylum were filed in July. This was almost 45 percent fewer than in the same month last year, when 18,503 applications were registered. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) plans to provide further information on this topic next week.

Dobrindt attributes the trend to his work. "We are delivering the asylum turnaround," he told Focus magazine. "Our border controls are working and will continue to be maintained." Controls at German border crossings are currently limited to September 15. Dobrindt would have to notify the EU Commission of any extension.

In the "Bild am Sonntag" newspaper, he also pointed to further measures. "We want procedures at the EU's external borders, faster decisions, and consistent returns." He also said tougher action would be taken against smugglers. "Because the state must regulate who comes into our country, not the criminal smuggling gangs." AFP/nd