European interior ministers are convening in Munich to discuss migration policy, focusing on strengthening borders and expediting deportations. The meeting includes 17 ministers who will address the European Migration Pact and the potential establishment of deportation centers in third countries. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's spokesperson stated that the discussions will aim to refine the EU's external border policies and accelerate returns of failed asylum seekers. The EU's border agency, Frontex, may be restructured into a more robust agency for border protection and returns.
In related news, police reported disruptions to high-speed rail services in western Germany due to deliberate damage to signal cabling. Deutsche Bahn indicated that trains between Dortmund and Munich, Hamburg and Basel, and northern Germany and Cologne experienced cancellations and delays. Investigations are underway regarding suspected cable theft in Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel was awarded the Elisabeth Prize by the Catholic Caritas Association in Augsburg for her commitment to social cohesion. The prize honors her efforts in social welfare, despite her controversial decision in 2015 to open Germany's borders to over a million refugees, which has contributed to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Additionally, Germany's Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is set to announce which city will bid to host future Olympic Games, with Munich and Cologne as the final contenders after Berlin withdrew. The decision is politically sensitive as it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Munich aims to host most events within the city, while Cologne plans to distribute events across multiple cities.
Protests against proposed cuts to social welfare are also planned in 15 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Nuremberg, coinciding with the discussions in Munich.