parties
Greens want to clarify fundamental issues – disagree on asylum reform
In the past, there have rarely been passionate debates like those at full-fledged party conferences at the so-called state council of the Greens. That might be different this time. photo
© Monika Skolimowska/dpa
The Greens have recently struggled a lot with their decisions as the governing party. The resentment about the tightening of European asylum law runs particularly deep. Can a party congress reconcile?
The Greens want to hold what is probably one of the most heated internal party debates in recent history: At the small party conference in the Hessian spa town of Bad Vilbel near Frankfurt, the focus is on the decision by the EU interior ministers to tighten European asylum rules, which has been heavily criticized by many Greens. Opponents are calling for a distancing from the decision with which the EU states are now supposed to proceed in negotiations with the European Parliament on the reform.
In a letter to the delegates, more than 80 Greens members of the state parliament warned against plans to tighten European asylum law. “This agreement will not save human lives, will not bring about fair distribution in the EU and will not provide the municipalities with a remedy for their acute problems,” says the letter, which is available to the German Press Agency. The results represent “a further deterioration in the rights of people who are on the run”. According to information from party circles, the letter was sent to the delegates last night.
“Further deterioration of the humanitarian situation”
Last week, the EU interior ministers decided on plans for far-reaching asylum reforms with German approval – and thus also with the approval of top Greens. Numerous tightening measures are planned to limit irregular migration – especially from countries that are considered relatively safe. Even parts of the green management staff rejected the approval.
“The agreement of the interior ministers represents a further deterioration in the humanitarian situation at the external borders, which we cannot support,” said the leader of the Green Youth, Timon Dzienus, of the dpa. One wants to enforce a course correction with the so-called state council. The aim are conditions for the upcoming trilogue negotiations between EU states, the European Parliament and the EU Commission. In the event of a final decision, the federal government would have to reposition itself. “We want to make German approval dependent on clear improvements in the humanitarian situation at the external borders,” explained Dzienus. The party youth organization has made several corresponding amendments.
“See the European policy dilemma”
They are directed against passages in the application of the federal executive board. This states that the agreement in the Council of Interior Ministers includes improvements that would not have come about without German action. However, key points had not been reached and the result was far removed from the Greens’ positions. “At the same time, we see the European policy dilemma. Overall, we assess the result differently.”
The Greens European politician Rasmus Andresen is also pushing for changes. He demanded a clear distancing from the decision of the interior ministers. “The EU member states are trying to use ineffective isolation symbols to ignite smoke screens that ignore the real challenges on the ground,” he told the dpa. “The Council of States should formulate tough goals for the negotiations between the EU Parliament and member states. If families with children are legally imprisoned in the future, a limit should be crossed for us.”
“Losing long-time members because of the decision”
Another proposal for “climate-neutral prosperity” is completely undisputed. While beyond the Greens, the law on the gradual replacement of heating systems in particular is causing discussions, the Greens themselves are struggling painfully with the issue of asylum and, in particular, their own responsibility. The Lower Saxony Green Party leader Greta Garlichs reported to the magazine “Stern”: “The mood there is pretty dire. We are losing long-standing members because of the decision.” The party’s liberal stance on questions of flight and migration creates identity for many Greens.
In addition to Economics Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is also expected in Bad Vilbel, who campaigned for approval of the decision, pointing out, among other things, that otherwise no refugees would be distributed among the EU countries. Many particularly outspoken critics of the decision come from the party’s left wing, which has supported Baerbock in the past. Many will not want to damage their own minister – which, with such decisive criticism of their positioning, is likely to be a balancing act.
“Will discuss passionately”
It remains to be seen what role the format of the event will play. At the state council, there are about a hundred delegates who were appointed by the state associations – more officials than the grassroots. Passionate debates like those at full-fledged party conferences have rarely taken place here in the past. That should be different this time, especially since regular party members are also allowed to speak and participate, albeit not to vote. Should the state council set strict guidelines for the Greens, as the governing party, to approve a future final asylum decision, that would pose a problem for the leadership – and for the federal government as well.
The political director of the Greens, Emily Büning, was relaxed. “Intense debates have always distinguished us as a party and are a living democracy. “We do not shy away from these debates and will emerge stronger from them this time,” she told the dpa. Party leader Ricarda Lang told the Funke media group: “We will discuss passionately, but as always with great respect for each other.”