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AWhen SPD leader Saskia Esken is asked if the settlement in the dispute over the Moria migrants is not a fold on the Union, she smiles briefly. Her friend from the party Olaf Scholz, who is standing next to her, weighs it. It is very clear that “we have come a long way,” the chancellor candidate said in front of the Reichstag, where SPD leaders unceremoniously organized a press release on Tuesday night. These are the additional immigrants from the Greek islands who are now supposed to arrive in Germany.
Shortly before, it became known that there should be an agreement between the Union and the SPD: Germany wants to take in an additional 1,553 people as part of a federal admission program. These are families with children who are already recognized as asylum seekers. They come from various Greek islands, not just Lesbos.
The SPD sells it as a success, even if it is clear that it failed to enforce its main demands. You have to imagine where you were a week ago, says Scholz. On Wednesday night, Moria’s camp on Lesbos caught fire; Before long, nearly 13,000 people were on the streets without shelter.
“A big step for Germany,” says Esken
It was the result of the SPD’s efforts to distribute around 400 unaccompanied migrant minors to various EU states in a first step, it is now said. The SPD is also responsible for the fact that around 1,500 more people are arriving in a second step.
On the one hand, this creates relief in the Greek islands, the Social Democrats argue. “There are families with children who are now being taken from all the Greek islands, which means that relief will be possible everywhere,” says Esken. Scholz explains that this would create “new accommodation options.” If Germany accepts some of the recognized refugees, those still undergoing an asylum procedure will have more space.
The party also takes credit for having Germany do it alone if necessary. On Monday, the party executive approved a document calling on Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) to pave the way for a federal admission program. Until now, Seehofer had always argued that inclusion was only possible in cooperation with other European countries.
Germany now advances alone
The federal government is now abandoning this. Because at least Tuesday night no other EU member state has been found wanting to participate in a distribution mechanism, Germany is now moving forward alone. Esken calls it “alone and independently.” It is “a big step for Germany”.
But the big step is smaller than the SPD expected. Last week there were demands from the party to host all Moria migrants if necessary, in case no other state could be found to cooperate. Members of the Bundestag described the situation in Lesbos as “shameful”.
They were aware of reports of people living on the streets without enough water and pressured them. The sensitivities of Greece or other European countries cannot be taken into account, he said. As this is a humanitarian emergency, Germany would have to take in large numbers of people alone if necessary.
Really higher numbers in mind
Esken also had such high numbers in mind when he spoke on ZDF on Sunday about wanting to register people “in high four-digit numbers.” SPD deputy chief Kevin Kühnert called for “viable proposals to end the misery,” and Seehofer resigned if he did not move.
With the deal that has now been made, it is questionable to what extent the people of Moria will benefit from it. After all, the 1,553 people are said to include migrants from the other Greek islands. When asked how many people come directly from Moria, the party leadership did not respond Tuesday night. It was also unclear to what extent the local situation would actually improve. Scholz said the accommodations the Greek government is now building on Lesbos should meet standards “that conform to Europe.”
The third step will come soon
Esken explained that Germany would have to provide adequate local assistance. However, the SPD did not provide details on the question of how to ensure that enough food is available. Instead, Scholz and Esken noted that an additional third step was pending. It was clearly agreed “that we will make an appropriate contribution within the possible European quota that has been negotiated for a week.” “It will certainly move in a similar order of magnitude” as has now been agreed.
