The former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected as the president of the UN General Assembly. In contrast, Germany’s strict immigration policies have faced a reversal following a ruling by the courts. For further details, visit Mountaintraveller.
Former chief diplomat of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, was chosen as the head of the biggest United Nations committee. A recent report highlights the significant levels of sexual abuse faced by women in Germany. The German administration remains steadfast following a court decision opposing border expulsions for refugees. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to permit increased humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
Here’s a summary of the news stories coming out of Germany for Monday, June 2, 2025:
German interior minister pledges to keep pursuing asylum pushbacks
On Monday night, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the government will maintain its immigration policies following the Berlin Administrative Court’s decision which declared that rejecting asylum seekers at Germany’s borders is illegal unless conducted pursuant to the EU's Dublin regulation.
"The inefficiency of the entire asylum process is evident. The figures are alarmingly high. We continue with our established procedures," he informed journalists.
Dobrindt stated in an official release, "We plan to proceed with the pushbacks," further noting that "we believe we possess the necessary legal grounds for doing so."
Dobrindt stated that the Interior Ministry will offer more comprehensive explanations for the pushbacks, as the court had requested.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has committed to enforcing stricter measures on migration. Soon after assuming his position last month, Chancellor Merz’s administration informed law enforcement officials that they have the authority to send back unauthorized immigrants at the borders, even when these individuals apply for asylum.
Find the complete article here.
A study indicates that 20% of German women faced sexual violence during their childhood.
A report published on Monday disclosed that over 20% of German women encountered sexual abuse during their childhood.
Harald Dressing, a psychiatrist who conducted the study for the Central Institute of Mental Health, stated that the level of offenses is "disturbingly elevated."
According to a survey, approximately 21% of women between the ages of 18 and 59 are believed to have experienced sexual violence prior to their 18th birthday, as opposed to only 4.8% of men. It was also found that up to 95% of these offenders are male.
Dressing pointed out that sexual offenses occur wherever children and parents ought to find a secure environment for kids.
Renowned for investigating sexual abuse within both Catholic and Protestant churches, Dressing stated that violence permeates various settings throughout Germany.
The effects of abuse can be devastating, he warned. "When a child becomes a victim of sexual violence, it is a serious trauma. It can destroy a life."
According to the study's authors, sexual violence covers behavior with and without physical contact, such as sexual harassment, coercion and penetration and also encompasses internet grooming.
In total, 5.7 million people in Germany are said to have suffered sexual violence as children, representing 12.7% of the population, the study found.
The average age of victims was 11.2 years old, with around half experiencing sexual violence on multiple occasions.
In around a third of cases, girls reported suffering abuse from family members or friends. In contrast, boys were more likely to be targeted in sport clubs, youth groups or religious contexts.
More than a third of respondents in the study said they had never previously disclosed the abuse, while only 7% said they had filed charges against their perpetrators.
German authorities ask for fresh investigation into Madeleine McCann case
German officials have called for another search effort in southern Portugal concerning the case of missing British child Madeleine McCann, according to reports from local media outlets.
As reported by CNN Portugal and SIC Noticas, both referencing investigations, Portuguese authorities plan to start searches on Tuesday in the coastal town of Praia da Luz in the Algarve region. The location holds significance as it was where three-year-old McCann vanished 18 years prior.
As reported by CNN Portugal, the renewed investigation will encompass a residence associated with the German suspect implicated in McCann's case—a convicted sex offender who reportedly resided in Portugal during the early 2000s.
The request for a new search is part of a warrant issued by the Brunswick Public Prosecutor's Office, in northern Germany, which is conducting a preliminary investigation into the suspect.
Investigators suspect that she was kidnapped and murdered. However, a body was never found. The last known major search operation in this case took place around two years ago, at the end of May 2023. Like previous search operations, it ended without result.
New gas-fired power plants planned for Bavaria
Germany's economy minister, Katherina Reiche, said on Monday that the government plans to build new gas-fired power plants in the southern state of Bavaria as part of its bid to fulfil pledges to bring down electricity prices for energy-intensive industry.
During a gathering of the Bavarian Cabinet, she stated that “two-thirds” of the proposed additional capacity will be constructed within the state under what’s termed a “southern bonus.” This initiative gives priority to Bavaria when bidding for the initial 20 gigawatts slated for development across Germany.
The minister stated that security of supply, climate protection, and affordability should once again form a balanced triangle.
She mentioned that the government was already engaged in discussions with the European Commission, which is the EU's administrative arm, regarding these plans.
Criticism has been directed at the proposals to boost dependence on natural-gas powered facilities from various environmental organizations and certain energy specialists.
Ex-German Foreign Minister chosen as President of UN General Assembly
Annalena Baerbock, the former German Foreign Minister, became the president of the UN General Assembly following a voting session held on Monday in New York.
In a secret vote, she obtained 167 ballots, with Chairman Philemon Yang revealing this information on Monday.
Baerbock was the sole contender and conveyed her appreciation for being elected, stating her intention to serve as an "honest mediator" for the General Assembly.
Baerbock is scheduled to be sworn into this mostly ceremonial position on September 9, just prior to the start of the General Assembly’s yearly gathering. The term as president will last for twelve months.
She became the fifth female occupant of this position since the founding of the United Nations nearly 80 years ago. The General Assembly includes representation from all 193 member nations of the UN.
A German court has determined that turning away refugees at the border is illegal.
A court in Berlin has determined that rejecting asylum seekers at the border is against the law.
This decision deals a setback to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has committed to taking stringent measures against illegal immigration.
Soon after the new government, led by conservatives, assumed power last month, It suggested that the police could prevent irregular migrants from accessing German soil. Even if they sought asylum.
The decision was made following a legal challenge filed by three Somali individuals who were returned to Poland from the German city of Frankfurt an der Oder last month.
The court said Germany was obliged to fully comply with the EU's so-called Dublin procedure for asylum cases.
Germany faces 'diminished' civil liberties — NGO
The civil liberties in Germany have been assessed as "restricted" by the aid group Bread for the World, placing the nation in the same category as Slovakia, Argentina, and the United States, trailing behind Austria, Estonia, the Nordic nations, New Zealand, and Jamaica.
The NGO reported that Germany was removed from the initial, or "open," classification of nations enjoying complete civil liberties about two years ago, largely due to its stringent handling of climate demonstrations.
In its Atlas of Civil Society, which compiles data from the CIVICUS network of civil society organizations, Brot Für Die Welt reported that merely 3.5% of the global population had full access to civil rights and freedoms.
In total, 40 nations, with 12 being from the European Union, fell into the "open" classification; 42 were placed under the "impaired" designation; 35 were categorized as "restricted"; 51 were labeled as part of the "oppressed" group; and 29, which includes Russia, were marked as "closed."
The second group encompasses 29.9% of the global population and characterizes nations wherein individuals reside under a "cloud of fear."
The Atlas (in German) can be located here.
Germany plans to streamline 'safe country of origin' designation for immigrants, according to a report.
The German administration is drafting legislation aimed at simplifying the process for identifying " safe countries of origin" regarding immigrants, according to a newspaper report, which suggests this could lead to tighter restrictions on the ability to seek asylum.
The Tagesspiegel newspaper reported that the German Cabinet could approve the measure on Wednesday.
The bill would make it possible for the government to decide on which countries are listed as safe without approval of the categorization by the Bundesrat, the upper house of the German parliament.
Migrants from countries designated as "safe" are unlikely to have their asylum applications approved, and deportations of asylum-seekers to such countries face fewer legal hurdles.
The government led by conservatives, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the helm, has pledged to concentrate on addressing irregular migration.
According to the coalition pact between Merz's conservative group and the center-left SPD, India, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are set to be classified as "safe" countries first.
Currently, the list of "safe countries of origin" includes EU member states and a small number of other countries.
In Eastern Europe, countries such as Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, and Moldova are considered safe. Similarly, Senegal and Ghana in Western Africa also meet this criterion.
Merz to urge 'fair ceasefire' for Ukraine at Trump talks — spokesperson
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will advocate a "fair ceasefire" in Ukraine during his first in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, a German government spokesperson said on Monday.
"The government's objectives are clear and the chancellor will do everything in his power to lobby the US president for a fair ceasefire, including with the threat of sanctions," the spokesperson told reporters in Berlin.
The spokesperson added that Merz was aware that US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was pushing for tighter sanctions on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine but said the chancellor would not interfere in US domestic affairs.
So far, Trump has shown hesitance about implementing stricter sanctions on Russia, even though he has occasionally indicated otherwise. irritated by Moscow's ongoing assaults on Ukraine.
In the meantime, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry mentioned that officials from Kyiv had held meetings with diplomatic advisors from Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. prior to discussions scheduled for Monday in Istanbul with representatives from Russia.
"The sides coordinated positions ahead of today's meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations. Members of the Ukrainian delegation reiterated Ukraine's commitment to peace efforts," the spokesman said.
German courts face growing wave of asylum lawsuits
The number of lawsuits over asylum decisions And the rapid processing of asylum requests in Germany has surged significantly compared to last year, as reported by the widely circulated publication. Bild daily reported on Monday.
The document referenced data from appellate courts across Germany’s federal states and reported a significant increase of 67% in such legal cases during the initial three months of 2025 compared to the equivalent timeframe in 2024.
The greatest number of legal cases was documented in the northwest German state of Lower Saxony, showing an uptick of nearly 120%.
The surge in legal proceedings has caused the judges' association BDVR to characterize the stated objective of the German federal and state governments—to expedite the handling of asylum requests before the scheduled overhaul of the EU’s asylum framework in July 2026—as “impractical.”
"The majority of German federal states won’t be able to conclude the asylum application process within the intended six-month timeframe,” stated Caroline Bülow, the vice-chairperson of BDVR.
As the cause of the rise, the Bild pointed out that with more employees joining the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees starting early 2024, there has been a growth in the total number of asylum cases handled.
On the other hand, numerous asylum seekers perceive the German government as having failed to uphold its commitments regarding asylum policies. as Mountaintravellerreported last month.
Various policies implemented by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to restrict immigration after assuming office, including stricter border control measures, have been criticized for potentially conflicting with both German and European Union laws.
Germany's Steinmeier sends congratulations to Poland's newly elected President Nawrocki
The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has offered his congratulations to far-right nationalist Karol Nawrocki after his victory in Poland's presidential election on Sunday.
"The friendship between Germany and Poland holds a special place in my heart. Let’s work together to reinforce the bond between our nations,” stated Steinmeier.
He emphasized, 'To ensure Europe’s future in terms of security, freedom, and prosperity, we need to collaborate intensively, adhering to democratic principles and the rule of law.'
He extended an invitation to the president-elect for Berlin.
Nawrocki's win might actually make things more complicated between Berlin and Warsaw, since he promised during his campaign to bring up the topic of World War II reparations, an issue that has consistently strained German-Polish relations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz During his first trip to Warsaw, he stressed that the newly formed conservative administration in Berlin believes the matter of World War II reparations has been legally settled. However, Warsaw disagrees with this stance.
The Eurosceptic Nawrocki, who will wield significant authority as president, could potentially utilize these powers to impede initiatives pushed by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s administration, much like how his predecessor Andrzej Duda did previously.
Germany's Merz Urges Israeli PM to Allow More Aid Into Gaza
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide additional emergency assistance to the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
As stated by government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius, Merz informed Netanyahu during their telephone conversation that it was crucial to permit ample humanitarian assistance into the Palestinian region and ensure its secure dissemination.
Merz's remarks come after accounts of the Israeli army firing upon civilians awaiting aid delivery.
During the telephone conversation, the German chancellor likewise emphasized that ensuring Israel’s security and its right to exist are essential components of Germany’s core political stance, as stated by Kornelius.
Merz additionally highlighted that the German government believed a negotiated two-state solution was the most effective approach for facilitating peaceful cohabitation between Israelis and Palestinians.
Israel has been conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip as retaliation for militant assaults on southern Israel initiated by the Islamist Hamas organization on October 7, 2023. These attacks resulted in over 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 individuals being taken hostage.
The attack has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories. The United Nations recently described Gaza as "the most starving place on Earth."
Individuals in Germany intend to take fewer or briefer vacation journeys.
Nearly one-third of people living in Germany are planning to travel less or for shorter periods of time this year, a YouGov survey has shown.
According to the survey conducted for an annual tourism industry summit in Berlin, about one in five (20%) said they intend to take less frequent trips, while one in 10 (11%) said their trips would be of shorter duration.
However, 10% of respondents said they planned on traveling more often in 2025, and 44% said they were not changing their travel habits in comparison with last year.
Two-thirds of those surveyed said that they had planned their vacations between June and September despite the increased frequency of heat waves and wildfires in popular holiday destinations, with just under 30% saying that extreme weather and the risk of natural catastrophes influenced their travel behavior.
Some 54% said rising costs were a major factor in planning travel, while 45% cited the political situation in the planned destination as playing a role. Families of three to four people were more concerned about these aspects than smaller family units, the study said.
In 2025, every alternate individual in Germany anticipated embarking on at least one domestic journey, whereas 5% were considering trips to either North or South America.
The research indicates that 17% do not plan to travel whatsoever in 2025.
It is widely recognized that Germans have a great passion for traveling, a fact extensively documented.
Germany's Baerbock poised to assume role as UN General Assembly president
The UN General Assembly is to hold a vote for its president on Monday in which former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is running unopposed for the one-year position.
The election in the plenary session is considered a formality. The position is largely ceremonial and should not be confused with that of secretary-general of the world body, a post currently held by Antonio Guterres.
The 44-year-old Green politician told the General Assembly last month that she intended to be a "unifier" if elected and "serve all 193 member states, large and small."
She said her priorities would include gender equality, climate protection and the UN's sustainability targets.
Baerbock's formal swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for September 9.
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