migration
Woidke is pushing for faster repatriation of refugees
Dietmar Woidke sees the greatest relief for municipalities in reducing the number of refugees. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
Brandenburg’s head of government Woidke sees the municipalities under pressure because of the number of refugees. He says what he expects from the EU asylum reform and the federal agreement on faster deportations.
Before Christmas, the EU states and the European Parliament agreed on uniform procedures at Europe’s external borders. The plan is to deal much harsher with people from countries that are considered relatively safe. The distribution of refugees among the EU states is being reorganized – instead of accepting them, they can also pay money. The traffic light factions in the Bundestag had also agreed on a compromise on two draft laws for easier deportations and faster naturalization.
Woidke announces cash card for asylum seekers
Woidke sees the greatest relief for municipalities in reducing the number of refugees. “This has also been achieved in recent weeks thanks to the stricter border controls,” said Woidke. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) ordered fixed controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland for the first time in mid-October and extended them several times. “We also need solidarity with a clear stance against smuggling crime,” said Woidke. The extended length of stay in the Brandenburg initial reception from 6 to 18 months also brought relief.
The head of government considers the planned introduction of a cash card for asylum seekers to be a means of combating irregular migration. “We are working on switching from cash payments to payments in kind with the introduction of payment cards,” said Woidke. “This is not discrimination, but rather a building block to consistently use the available resources to help those in need and to combat smuggling crime.” The SPD politician is pushing for more integration through work: “For better and faster integration of the people who stay with us, we must also be able to get them into work more quickly,” said Woidke.
The head of government made it clear that despite efforts to limit the number of refugees, help for people in need would continue. “Of course we continue to stand by the constitutionally enshrined individual right to asylum and the UN Refugee Convention,” said the SPD politician. “It is our humanitarian duty to help people in need.” However, migration must be distinguished from this for purely economic reasons.
According to the state government, the municipalities in Brandenburg will probably have to accept and accommodate 19,253 refugees this year. You already see yourself at the limit.