Overview

• Germany's new asylum policy allows for the immediate return of asylum seekers entering from other EU countries, citing their origin from 'safe' states.
• Poland refused to accept two Afghan asylum seekers returned under this policy, invoking the Dublin Regulation, which requires Germany to process their claims first.
• The incident has escalated into a border dispute between Germany and Poland, with diplomatic tensions heightened during Poland's presidential election campaign.
• German opposition parties and EU figures, including Green politician Sven Giegold, have criticized the policy as a breach of EU law, with calls for legal action against Germany.
• Federal police predict further refusals by neighboring states, suggesting that the policy's implementation will face continued challenges.