Germany: Argument over asylum seekers ahead of special summit

2023-05-08 07:52:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany: Argument over asylum seekers ahead of special summit

Illustrative photo

More money, more control of migration - this is what the heads of the German states are demanding from the German coalition government ahead of the planned summit of the German government with the states.

German state leaders want more money from the federation to cover the costs of supporting asylum seekers, but Interior Minister Faeser views the demands with a critical eye. Before the special summit on Wednesday (10.05.), the prime ministers of the German states have increased the pressure on the government. The head of the state of Hesse, Boris Rhein, asked in a conversation with the German editorial network "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland" for more money from the federation for cities, municipalities and counties.

"The federation should at least double its support of 2.75 billion euros," said the CDU politician. Otherwise, the accommodation and integration of refugees cannot be financed. Rhein wants a deal at the summit, according to which the federation's aid should be oriented towards the number of refugees.

"It should be clear from now on, that if the numbers of refugees increase, the amount of the federation should also increase", emphasizes Rhein. Because the federation itself is responsible for controlling and limiting migration, according to him. The summit of the federation and the states must send a clear signal "that the federal government must finally pull its head out like an ostrich from the sand, understand the emergency of the municipalities and help as soon as possible."

According to a preliminary document before Wednesday's meeting, countries will no longer receive extra funding for refugees. Criticism has also come from the prime ministers of the states from the governing parties. The Prime Minister of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, (Greens) has said, that "the federation must realize its responsibility, and not leave the states and municipalities alone with the increased expenses they have in the refugee crisis".

Meanwhile, the prime minister of Zara, Anke Rehlinger (SPD), proposes that "unused means for housing support" be put to use "to create financially affordable housing opportunities, to be temporarily used for housing refugees".

While the Bavarian Prime Minister, Markus Söder, is of the opinion that sanctions should be imposed on countries that do not repatriate rejected asylum seekers, for example by cutting aid. According to Söder, municipalities and counties have reached the limits of their capacities regarding migration. "More municipal funding, better immigration control and more federal housing options are needed."

On the other hand, the number of countries declared as safe countries of origin should be further expanded. "The federal government must finally take care to control migration. If we in Germany are not able to act, this will further undermine faith in democracy," said the Prime Minister of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, CDU .

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) is optimistic before the meeting. She sees good chances for a solution to the migration policy within the EU, Faeser told the German newspaper "Bild am Sonntag". "I want us as Europeans to act together, despite our differences."

According to Faeser, the blockade of several years within the EU has been broken. This is about the construction of asylum centers at the external borders of the EU, from where asylum seekers can be dispersed directly to other countries or return to their countries of origin. But Faeser remains skeptical of requests for more funds from the federation for the German states./ DW