Government statement: Scholz defends migration policy tagesschau.de

Migration policy is one of the most controversial issues in the EU. Tomorrow it will be discussed at the EU summit. In his government statement, Chancellor Scholz announced that he would consistently deport migrants without a right to stay.

How can a common European immigration policy succeed? Before the extraordinary meeting of the European Council, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed confidence in progress in the negotiations on a common EU migration and asylum policy, which have been deadlocked for years. A reform of the European asylum system is still possible in the current European legislative period, said Scholz in a government statement in the Bundestag. It ends in 2024.

Scholz said that more effective control of the external borders is needed, also with the help of the EU border protection agency Frontex. Better joint border patrols are needed. At the same time, he emphasized that the EU states on the external border needed support. Other countries would also have to accept asylum seekers. The Chancellor stressed that it was right for the EU and Turkey to continue their cooperation.

Security checks already at the EU’s external borders

At the same time, Scholz signaled approval of the four-point plan to combat irregular migration that the EU Commission presented last week. The proposals are aimed at better securing the EU’s external borders, increasing the number of returns, greater solidarity among EU member states and greater cooperation with third countries. A reform of the European asylum system has been blocked for years by states that are opposed to a fairer distribution of people seeking protection.

In addition, the Chancellor supports the plans for the EU fingerprint database “Eurodac” and the screening regulation, which should make identification measures and security checks on asylum seekers possible even at the external border. You need clarity about who is coming to Europe and why, said Scholz.

Scholz: Need more migration agreements

Scholz also supported the idea of ​​linking legal immigration to the willingness of countries to take back rejected asylum seekers. Such a migration agreement has been concluded with India and is working successfully. Further agreements would follow, he said, referring to the recently appointed special representative for migration, Joachim Stamp. At the same time, such projects should also be promoted in the EU. “This is how we bring order to the system and set the right incentives,” emphasized Scholz. “Anyone who doesn’t get a right to stay here has to leave Germany again.”

However, given the shortage of skilled workers, targeted immigration is necessary. He supports the establishment of another refugee summit by Home Secretary Nancy Faeser. Germany has already made progress on migration policy – the Chancellor cited the activation of temporary protection for Ukrainians as an example. 125,000 Ukrainians subject to social security contributions are now employed in Germany. Many more people would have found part-time jobs. He expressly thanked the federal states, volunteers and associations for their efforts in the admission on site. “And as in the previous year, the federal government is providing the federal states and municipalities with billions in support this year to ensure that those who arrive are well looked after.”

Merz: The refugee issue must become a top priority

Criticism comes from the opposition. The refugee issue must be declared a top priority, demanded Friedrich Merz, chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. The Chancellor must now invite people to a refugee summit under his leadership with concrete measures, in particular to help cities and communities effectively. “The recording capacities are exhausted in many districts, cities and communities,” said Merz in the debate on the government statement. There should not be another summit without any result like last autumn, led by Interior Minister Faeser. In addition to the more than one million refugees from Ukraine that Germany has already taken in, more and more refugees and asylum seekers have been coming from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East since last autumn.

Green party leader Katharina Dröge, on the other hand, called for better protection standards. “No one flees without a reason. Nobody leaves their familiar environment lightly. That is the core of flight and migration.” It is about a common European responsibility when taking in refugees. In addition, combating the causes of flight must be given greater attention. “This includes development cooperation and civilian crisis prevention.” This is an elementary task. Appropriate funding for development cooperation and humanitarian aid must be reflected in the federal budget, as in the coalition agreement.

New EU sanctions against Russia announced

Scholz not only assured solidarity when accepting Ukrainians. Germany is one of Ukraine’s main financial supporters. “We are also far ahead in continental Europe when it comes to supplying weapons and ammunition,” emphasized Scholz in view of the debates about tank deliveries and criticism from Eastern Europe. The highest good of the western states is cohesion. At the same time, he warned against a public bidding war on military supplies to Ukraine. Dissonance and speculation about possible differences in interests were only of use to the Russian president and his propaganda.

“We will not allow a country to take parts of another country by force,” said the Chancellor. “That’s why we support Ukraine for as long as necessary.” The existing EU sanctions against Russia would be tightened again on the anniversary of the war of aggression. The federal government will maintain the prudence and nerves of steel it takes to weigh up. NATO will not become a war party.

Merz: Large parts of the turning point only on paper

The wait-and-see attitude of the federal government has been repeatedly criticized by the Union in recent months. During the debate, Merz renewed his criticism. Scholz proclaimed a turning point after the Russian attack. “Large parts of this turning point in Germany have so far largely taken place on paper,” said the CDU chairman. Germany has delivered modern anti-aircraft systems and artillery. However, it braked and hesitated until the end, until a decision was made two weeks ago to also supply Ukraine with modern armored personnel carriers and battle tanks.

Now the delivery will take a few weeks and months, the training of the Ukrainian soldiers and the repair of the tanks will only start in the next few days. Companies that could produce vehicles and ammunition complained that they were not getting any orders and that payment terms were not being met. This means that there is no planning security, said Merz. “Mr. Chancellor, you can’t deal with the alliance’s commitments like that. That’s not possible.”

The heads of state and government of the EU meet on Thursday and Friday for an extraordinary council. In addition to migration policy and the Ukraine war, other possible trade agreements are also on the agenda.