After the refugee summit, the municipalities criticized the “postponement of urgent problems”. The city day speaks of a “pretty disappointment.” “Pro Asyl” is also dissatisfied.
The municipalities have expressed their disappointment with the federal and state decisions on refugee policy. The President of the German District Association, Reinhard Sager (CDU), complained that “urgent problems were being postponed”.
“Time We Don’t Have”
Sager told the newspapers of the Funke media group: “If individual points are to be worked out further by the summer and then decided in November, that suggests we don’t have the time.” Demands for limiting the influx of refugees, for repatriation of those without a right to stay, and for better financial support for local authorities remained on the agenda.
We need full coverage of the accommodation costs for recognized refugees.
The President of the German Association of Cities, Markus Lewe (CDU), also expressed his disappointment: “All in all, this meeting was quite a disappointment for us.”
Next meeting in November
Yesterday in Berlin, the federal government promised the federal states one billion euros more in financial support for the care of refugees. However, the federal states did not push through a financial model based on the number of refugees at the refugee summit in the Chancellery. This is to be discussed further in working groups and a final decision will be made in November.
The federal government had so far pledged 2.75 billion euros for this year. The federal states should use the additional billion to relieve their municipalities.
Landsberg: “Too short-term and too general”
The general manager of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, was also there ARD morning magazine dissatisfied with the outcome of the summit. Landsberg described the agreement as “too short-term and too general” and called for a long-term perspective. Of course, a billion is a lot of money, but the municipalities need planning security, Landsberg explained.
The municipalities are now building shelters, they need to know who is paying for what.
Landsberg also criticized the fact that Germany has not yet had a sustainable strategy for dealing with refugees – but people will continue to come. He added: “Limiting immigration has been discussed, but we don’t know whether that will actually happen – and I don’t understand postponing that to November, the facts are on the table.”
“Pro Asyl” is shocked
The refugee organization “Pro Asyl” found clear words after the meeting. The legal policy spokeswoman for “Pro Asyl”, Wiebke Judith, told the newspapers of the Funke media group that the organization was “shocked that the summit led to a financial agreement at the expense of the human rights of people fleeing”.
“Detention centers on the EU’s external borders are the recipe for a human rights disaster,” she criticized, and demanded that the federal government “urgently return to a human rights-based policy.” It is to be hoped “that the same debate will not rage in a few weeks – because this public discussion was grist for the right-wing populists’ mills,” she complained.
Nouripour shows understanding for municipalities
Green co-leader Omid Nouripour said in ARD morning magazine Understanding of the frustration of the municipalities. He said: “The municipalities bear a great burden” – some municipalities in particular are at the limit. He understood everyone who said that a long-term solution to these issues had to be found. “Whoever climbs from peak to peak will never get the ground under their feet,” he added.
However, Nouripour rated the agreement between the federal states and the federal government as a stage victory. He said: “Beyond all discussions, money has now flowed.”
Faeser: “I am very happy about the agreement”
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) gave a positive assessment of the results of the federal-state meeting. “I am very pleased with the agreement, which shows that all levels of government are living up to their great humanitarian responsibility,” said Faeser.
This package of measures reflects exactly the basic principles of our refugee policy: We protect people who have fled war and terror.
In order to continue to be able to do this, “irregular migration” is limited, Faeser continued.