Germany Suspends Deportations of Asylum Seekers to Greece Ahead of EU Reform

Germany has temporarily halted the deportation of asylum seekers to Greece until the implementation of the EU asylum reform scheduled for June 12, 2026. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated this suspension is part of a broader compromise which includes Germany not being required to accept migrants under the new solidarity mechanism in the initial two semesters following the reform. The Greek Migration Ministry confirmed that Greece will not have obligations to take back asylum seekers until the new rules come into effect.

As a result, asylum seekers entering Germany illegally via Greece until June 2026 will not be returned there. Dobrindt clarified that this suspension applies only to asylum seekers, while refugees already recognized in Greece will continue to be returned. The current Dublin system, which mandates that asylum cases be processed by the country responsible for first registration, often fails due to six-month deadlines expiring and some EU states' unwillingness to accept returns. Consequently, Germany is responsible for many asylum cases initially registered in Greece.

The new reform aims to address these challenges by introducing longer return deadlines when individuals are temporarily untraceable and shifting more asylum assessments to the EU’s external borders. This is expected to enable the lifting of internal German border controls only after stronger external protections are in place. Agreements have been reached with Greece and Italy concerning migrant returns in line with the upcoming European rules.