[ad_1]
If the SPD leadership has its way, Germany must take in more people from Moria faster. He gives the Union an ultimatum. The government wants to make a decision before Wednesday, but still awaits a European solution.
The SPD calls for an agreement in the coalition to accept more immigrants from the burning Greek camp of Moria within 48 hours. “I think 48 hours is a very good measure in view of the pressing challenges,” Vice Chancellor and Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on the sidelines of a meeting of the SPD presidium.
The SPD’s impression is “that this is the common will of the three government parties.” Germany must do much more than is associated with the first step, Scholz said, without giving figures. Already last night, the leader of the SPD, Saskia Esken, ZDF demanded that “a high four-digit quantity” be brought to Germany. This should be decided on Monday. Esken has now said that a “substantial contribution” must be made. The SPD is “very determined” to reach an understanding.
Decision on Wednesday?
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) wants to decide on the admission of more migrants from the refugee camp burned down by the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday. In this context, it is in coordination with Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), Merkel said, according to participants at the CDU presidium meeting in Berlin.
It was a “unique emergency situation,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert. The situation for many refugees on the island of Lesbos remains dire. It is about the question of how Germany can make a “further substantial contribution,” he said. He confirmed that consultations on the admission of more refugees are ongoing within the federal government. But they want to keep looking for a European solution and support Greece.
“No solo German effort”
The Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos burned down on Wednesday. 13,000 people lost their homes. Switzerland and nine EU countries later agreed to accept 400 unaccompanied minors. Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) announced on Friday that Germany would provide shelter between 100 and 150 children and young people. He himself spoke of a “first step” and offered the possibility of further admission, especially for families with children.
Although there is a willingness in the Union to host more refugees, leading politicians continue to push for a European solution. According to the participants in the CDU presidium meeting, Health Minister Jens Spahn emphasized that the situation as in 2015 with the refugee crisis should not be repeated. The CDU has often decided this and said that it must now also be shown in concrete terms. Germany absolutely has to help. But there shouldn’t be a single German effort.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said on the “Bild” -Talk web format that he believed it would be feasible for Germany to host a significantly higher proportion of people without any problems. At the same time, the CSU party leader emphasized that migration should be regulated at the European level.
Hostage travels to Athens
Regardless of the desired cabinet agreement on Wednesday, Chancellor Merkel is planning a meeting with German mayors who are campaigning for the reception of refugees. But there is still no appointment, she clarified. The Berlin state government does not want to wait for this date. Interior Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) wants to travel to Athens tonight.
Talks with representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are scheduled for Tuesday. Geisel wants to visit a refugee camp in the Athens area on Wednesday. The state of Berlin wants to confirm its commitment to do its part to solve the problems in the Greek refugee camps.
