Germany’s ambassador to the UK has dismissed claims that Berlin is considering a deportation scheme similar to the controversial Rwanda plan introduced by the previous Tory government in Britain.
Miguel Berger, Germany’s envoy in London, took to X (formerly Twitter) to refute the notion, saying, “Let’s be clear, there is no plan of the German Government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.” He clarified that the current discussions in Germany revolve around processing asylum applications in third countries under international humanitarian law, with the involvement of the United Nations.
This stands in stark contrast to the UK’s Rwanda plan, initially introduced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government, which proposed sending migrants who crossed the English Channel in small boats to Rwanda on a one-way ticket. Under that plan, individuals would not be permitted to return to Britain, even if their asylum claims were valid.
Reports suggesting that Germany might consider using asylum facilities in Rwanda—initially intended for the UK’s now-abandoned migration plan—have sparked debate. Joachim Stamp, Germany’s migration commissioner, hinted that the EU could explore the possibility of utilizing these existing facilities in Rwanda for asylum processing.
In response to these reports, Conservative MPs in the UK have argued that Germany’s potential engagement with Rwanda shows that the Labour Party was wrong to reject the Tory-backed scheme. However, Downing Street has refrained from commenting on the discussions between Germany and Rwanda, stating that it would not intervene in negotiations between two foreign governments.
The UK’s Rwanda deportation scheme, aimed at deterring migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats, was highly controversial and ultimately scrapped following legal challenges and widespread opposition.
