Germany Champions European Third-Country Asylum Solutions at Munich Security Conference

At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, Germany took a leading role in advancing third-country asylum solutions within Europe, focusing on cooperative and legally secure models. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, alongside EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner and ministers from the Netherlands and Austria, engaged in intensive talks to develop innovative frameworks such as Return Hubs. These hubs aim to efficiently manage asylum processes by coordinating returns from Europe to third countries.

Dobrindt emphasized Germany's commitment to protecting those in need while ensuring consistent returns for those without asylum claims. He remarked, "Anyone who needs protection in Europe will receive it. Those without a claim must be returned consistently. Third-country agreements can be a crucial lever for this."

The initiative, supported also by Greece and Denmark, builds on a core European group first formed at an informal Interior and Justice Ministers meeting in Cyprus. The group aims to broaden participation across Europe and establish concrete cooperation measures within national and European asylum systems.

This push for third-country solutions represents Germany's proactive effort to share responsibility for asylum seekers within Europe and explore new avenues for effective asylum management. The discussions signify Europe’s readiness to assume shared responsibility and implement innovative mechanisms at a systemic level.