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1,553 refugees from Greece are supposed to be allowed into Germany, a difficult compromise between the Union and the SPD. The day after the decision, there are criticisms, also within our own ranks. The FDP accuses the coalition of arbitrariness.
The grand coalition’s decision to accept refugees from five Greek islands in 1553 received mixed comments.
The agreement between the Union and the SPD provides for families with children who have already completed their process of recognition as refugees in Greece. There are voices in the ranks of both coalition partners who question the compromise.
“Wrong signals”
The CDU Economic Council warned that accepting refugees from Greek camps could send “the wrong signals.” General Secretary Wolfgang Steiger told the Funke media group newspapers that humanitarian aid was very important, but, as requested by Greece itself, it had to be “in situ on the islands and as a pan-European solution.” No “departure signal should be sent to millions of people in Turkey”.
Manfred Weber, a CSU politician and chairman of the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament, also called for a European solution. He also called the admission of around 1,500 refugees “correct and necessary”. at Bavarian broadcasting Weber said: “Humanity is necessary because we in Moria simply have to help now.”
CDU interior expert Armin Schuster also defended the coalition agreement. With him, the Union constantly continues “its path towards a balance between humanity and order”. The priority for the Union is that a situation like 2015 should not be allowed to repeat itself and that European partners should not be offended, Schuster told the Germany publishing network.
Interior Minister Seehofer had previously spoken of a “responsible solution” that “ensures that 2015 will not be repeated.”
The parliamentary secretary of the Interior, Stephan Mayer (CSU), described the intention to welcome the more than 1,500 immigrants as a “proposal to the Greek government”. At the same time, one “continues to advertise at all levels and with full conviction for other willing people within the EU,” Mayer told the “Passauer Neue Presse”.
Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) also stressed in the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that Germany alone cannot solve the problem of migration in Europe. A “common European effort” is necessary.
“Better than nothing, but not enough”
The leader of the SPD parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, also appealed to the sense of responsibility of the international community. He hoped that the understanding that had been reached in Germany would be an occasion for other European or non-European countries to provide help, he said. Bavarian broadcasting.
After Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) yesterday described the agreement with the Union as “great, enormous progress”, criticism came from the SPD left.
The admission of 1,500 people from the Greek islands is “better than nothing, but not enough,” said Hilde Mattheis, SPD deputy and president of the “Democratic Left” forum. There are much larger contingent capacities, she said, referring to 170 German municipalities that had agreed to accept.
Immediately after the talks between the Union and the SPD, the president of the SPD, Saskia Esken, had already indicated that Germany could host more than 1500 people from Moria. It was clearly agreed with the Union that Germany would make an appropriate contribution within a possible European quota that has been negotiated for a week. According to Esken, this will be of a similar magnitude to the number of approved recordings that have now been decided.
“Totally unsatisfactory”
Criticisms of the government agreement come from the opposition, from different directions.
In a document by prominent green politicians in the Bundestag and the European Parliament that was circulated on Tuesday night, the German offer was described as “completely inappropriate”. It falls far short of what the federal states and municipalities can provide in terms of accommodation. All Moria refugees would have to be quickly evacuated from the island of Lesbos and distributed to European countries.
The leader of the green parliamentary group Katrin Göring-Eckardt called on the federal government to “quickly accept 5000 people”. The admission of 400 families who already have positive asylum decisions is “an alibi offer.” at ARD morning magazine Göring-Eckardt also called for a fair mechanism for the distribution of refugees in Europe.
Left-wing party leader Bernd Riexinger also called the government’s plans inadequate. The parliamentary director of the left-wing parliamentary group, Jan Korte, told the publishing network in Germany: “1500 is, of course, better than nothing. But that is still unacceptable for one of the richest countries in the European Union.”
“Inhuman hopelessness”
The human rights organization Pro Asyl and Diakonie made similar statements. Pro Asyl Managing Director Günter Burkhardt said: “The German government tolerates the violation of human rights in Greece: more than 10,000 refugees remain in inhuman hopelessness with no prospect of protection.” That is a pathetic signal for human rights in Europe.
For the president of Diakonie, Ulrich Lilie, the decision of the coalition “unfortunately comes late and falls short”. According to the president of the Evangelical Welfare Association, there should be no more political tactics behind people’s backs. Germany has a special responsibility in the current Presidency of the Council of the EU and must, if necessary, go ahead alone so that other countries will follow suit. A solution should not be found for ten percent, but for 100 percent of the people.
Criticism of the understanding in the coalition also comes from the FDP. It is “shameful that the federal government’s refugee policy has apparently been exhausted in negotiations over a quota based on numbers drawn from scratch,” said FDP MP Stephan Thomae of the “Augsburger Allgemeine.” “The contingents, whether 1,500 or 5,000, are arbitrary and do not do justice to our humanitarian responsibility,” said the FDP politician.
AfD party vice president Stephan Brandner criticized the admission of immigrants from Moria creating “more incentives to burn refugee camps around the world and thus blackmail a ticket to Germany.”
Many cities had agreed to be receptive
However, the German Association of Cities welcomed the understanding of the coalition. “I am glad that after the fire in Moria, Germany has decided to be bold on its own. It would have been a mistake to wait for the reform of the European asylum system, which has been stalled for a long time,” said City Council President Burkhard Jung to the newspapers from the Funke media group.
It assumes that the refugees will be distributed to the federal states according to the so-called Königstein key, taking into account population size and tax revenue. “Subsequently, cities that have declared their willingness to accept should be given special consideration,” says Jung.
2750 refugees can enter
After the fire in the crowded Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, the grand coalition agreed to allow more people from 408 families to enter Germany in 1553. Last week, the federal government had initially only promised to accept unaccompanied minors as part of an action with other European countries.
In addition to the number that has now been decided, there are already admitted asylum seekers. “53 unaccompanied minor asylum seekers have already been admitted,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Tuesday. In addition, there are 243 children in need of treatment and their main families. This is likely to affect at least 1000 people, of which more than 500 are already in Germany. “The total number of people that Germany is taking over the Greek islands is around 2,750.”
The reception of refugees is likely to be the most important topic in today’s Question Time with Federal Minister of the Interior Seehofer in the Bundestag.
After the Camp Moria fire disaster last week, more than 12,000 refugees have been left homeless on the island of Lesbos. According to aid organizations, the food and water supply situation is difficult.
