Nancy Faeser

People lay flowers and lit candles in front of the Johannis church close to the Christmas market, where a car drove into a crowd on Friday evening, in Magdeburg, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024

The German government pledged Sunday to fully investigate whether there were security lapses before the Christmas market car-ramming attack that killed five people and injured over 200.

Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family

Britain, Germany, France, Italy and several other European countries have said they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stressed the need for a strict approach to migration management during her visit to Greece on Monday.

She highlighted the need for detailed registration of illegal migrants and faster returns to third countries. Faeser's stance reflects Germany's broader strategy to manage migration effectively while addressing domestic political pressures.

Two German ministers are set to visit Greece in the coming days, the country's ambassador in Athens said on Saturday.

Speaking at a German-Hellenic Business Association event in Athens, German Ambassador Andreas Kindl announced the visits of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Transport Minister Volker Wissing. 

Berlin is pressing Athens over the return of migrants who initially sought asylum in Greece before traveling to Germany, under the Dublin Regulation framework.

This comes as a response to an increasing number of migrants seeking better opportunities in Germany due to its extensive social benefits.

With Germany’s decision to implement spot checks at its land borders now in effect for 24 hours, Athens is closely monitoring developments.

Germany will from Monday expand border controls to the frontiers with all nine of its neighbours to stop irregular migrants in a move that has sparked protests from other EU members.

Berlin announced the sweeping measure following a string of deadly extremist attacks that have stoked public fears and boosted support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Germany’s sudden shift to a “hardline” approach on migration, after years of lenient rules, attractive social benefits, and a culture of tolerance, has sounded alarms in several European countries, including Greece. Concerns are growing about a potential unilateral shift in migration policy that could lead to the unraveling of the Schengen Agreement.

Germany will bar the use of critical components made by Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in core parts of the country's 5G networks in two steps starting in 2026, the nation's top security official have said.

Germany, which has Europe's biggest economy, has long mulled what to do about components made by Chinese suppliers in its new-generation cellphone networks.

Τurkey defender Merih Demiral is to be banned for two games by UEFA following a gesture he made during his side's last-16 win against Austria on Tuesday and will miss Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands, German media reported.