[ad_1]
yesChancellor Angela Merkel is slowing down the debate on how many people Germany could host from the burning Greek refugee camp in Moria. “It doesn’t make any sense to talk about a single number now,” Merkel said on Monday of the corresponding demands from the SPD and CDU. Germany is ready to help Greece in various ways, such as the construction of a new European reception center for refugees on the island of Lesbos.
“I believe this is an important step towards a stronger Europeanization of immigration policy,” said the Chancellor. Unlike the burned Moria camp, such a facility must meet international standards. Germany will get involved and feel a special responsibility.
Athens has voiced ideas “which I very much support,” Merkel said. Consequently, actions should no longer be taken only from the Greek side, but also from the European side. In any case, it would be a pilot project to think about. So, sovereign rights would initially fall to Greece. There had to be a contract so that there could also be European trade. She believes that this is a really important step in the Europeanization of immigration policy, Merkel said.
As an EU state with external borders, according to Merkel, Greece has taken a lot of responsibility. “That is why Greece deserves support,” the foreign minister said. This should be organized as European as possible. It is also a question of which group of people is particularly in need and who can be further accepted. “All of this has to be packaged in one package. It makes no sense to talk about a number now ”. Everyone knows that the European task of migration policy cannot be solved by Germany alone.
The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the Commission would present a concept for a new migration policy on 23 September.
Söder wants to welcome more immigrants
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has spoken out in favor of accepting more immigrants from the burning Greek camp of Moria than had been planned. “I just think it is feasible for Germany without any problem, as there is still a significantly higher proportion of people, young children and family members,” explained “The right questions” in the “Bild” talk. Germany should “substantially increase” its participation.
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) announced on Friday that Germany would host 100 to 150 minor refugees “in a first step”. The camp on the island of Lesbos, which was home to 12,000 people, caught fire on Wednesday night.
Söder said that from his point of view it was a personal Christian duty to help in such a need. “Germany has to make a substantial contribution here. That is feasible and feasible, I don’t see the big problem there ”. The coalition will now talk about it.
At the same time, he emphasized that migration policy must be resolved at the European level and that Germany must not do it alone: ”What we cannot do: go back to 2015, without rules, without ideas.”
Merkel wants to decide on the admission of more migrants before Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. In this context, she was in coordination with Seehofer, Merkel said on Monday, according to participants at the CDU presidium meeting in Berlin.
According to this information, Merkel is also planning a meeting with mayors of Germany who are campaigning for the reception of refugees. But there is no date yet, she made clear. Several participants in the CDU meeting had stated that some cities and districts wanted to host migrants, but then the mayor would not find accommodation for asylum seekers. Something is contradicted here.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday that Germany would make a “substantial contribution” because these people were “in dire straits”. The Greek government has made it clear that it wants to take responsibility for the people of Lesbos primarily for itself, he added. “It’s a unique emergency situation,” Seibert emphasized.
According to participants, Health Minister Jens Spahn warned at the CDU presidium meeting that the refugee crisis should not repeat itself in 2015. You have to help people. “But helping people means helping locally, not bringing everyone to Germany,” he said. Spahn warned against a solo German effort. Care must be taken not to re-divide the EU.
Esken awaits an offer from the Union
SPD leader Saskia Esken asked ZDF on Sunday night to record a decision on the admission of a high four-digit number of migrants from the Moria camp this Monday. Esken declined to specify what “a high four-digit amount” actually means. By popular understanding, it would be a number well above 5,000. She expected an offer from the Union parties that would make a coalition committee unnecessary, she said.
When asked about the voting behavior in the Bundestag, where the SPD, together with the coalition partner, has so far rejected opposition demands for a broader refugee admission, the party leader said: ” If the CDU / CSU does not abandon its lockdown, then we have to think about other steps. “
On Monday, Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the government wanted to work a position in 48 hours.
Women queuing for food separately from men on Lesbos
Among other things, the Social Democrats are calling for quick local help, the admission of more refugees than the 150 children who have been decided, and more commitment from the government for a European solution. In Europe, it is not always only “case by case” what is needed, structural regulation is needed that specifies clear action, according to Scholz.
It is now important, in close cooperation with the Greek government, to provide swift humanitarian aid to defuse the human tragedy on the ground. Speed is essential. At the European level, the SPD demands that it is no longer accepted that refugees block the solution of the problem of distribution.
CDU politicians reject “ultimate demands”
NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet and several other prominent CDU politicians rejected Esken’s request. “Final demands are never good in a coalition,” Laschet said Monday before the CDU leadership began deliberations in Berlin. This is a humanitarian issue and a global solution. That cannot be measured in three or four digit numbers. Saar Prime Minister Tobias Hans warned against rash actions and party political tactics.
Laschet said that it was necessary to ensure that in future the admission was regulated by the European reception centers, and that Greece would also have to support this. This would lead to an orderly migration system and the protection of the EU’s external borders. But that means you need a fresh start on the Greek islands. If Germany could make an even bigger contribution here, “it would be nice.” North Rhine-Westphalia offered admission to about 1,000 immigrants.
Hans said it was not a party decision, “it is the federal government’s job to announce that we can find a solution in Europe.” The image should not always emerge that only Germany is willing to do something here. But the German part in a solution must be an important part. “We are a strong country in the EU.” Saarland will also participate, he said. “But I am not in favor of quick action, not for political party tactics, but for a humanitarian solution from Europe for the people.” Hans added: “So far what has been achieved in Europe has not been convincing.”
Many in the Union fear that large numbers of people will receive a signal with a pull effect: the more that are accepted, the more will follow or be encouraged to flee in the first place. If Germany did so alone it would be “completely wrong”, said deputy chairman of the parliamentary group Thorsten Frei (CDU) WELT. “If Europe had the impression that Germany is ready to act alone in the event of a crisis, then we can forget about a common European solution to the problem of migration in the future.”
Göring-Eckardt open to solo national efforts
The leader of the green parliamentary group Katrin Göring-Eckardt spoke in WELT in favor of acting only in an emergency: “In Germany, many cities and municipalities are ready, the capacities are there. Germany must act now and welcome those seeking protection. “
On the island of Lesbos, 300 of the 12,000 migrants moved into a newly built replacement tent camp over the weekend after the Moria camp was likely destroyed by a fire last week. Radical immigrants tried to prevent others from going to the new camp. They want to be taken to the mainland so they can move further north: “To Germany,” as local journalists were told. Thousands of people live on the streets, including families with children, without shelter, sanitary facilities or running water. Three-quarters of former Moria residents are Afghans (77 percent), a much smaller proportion from Syria (eight percent) and the Congo (seven percent).
