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Hundreds of Greens members criticize the asylum course
The border between Morocco and Spain in Ceuta (archive image). “The expansion of safer third countries, poorer legal protection, mandatory border procedures in detention camps (…) are just some of the tightening of laws that are included in the proposed reform of the asylum system,” criticize the Greens members in their letter. photo
© Javier Fergo/AP/dpa
Some Greens are horrified by the considerations on EU asylum law reform. A letter from the party base puts pressure on top Green staff. Other parties are also speaking out.
The Greens have clearly criticized the plans for reforming EU asylum law – and also the course taken by their own top staff in the debate. The “Spiegel” reported on a letter from around 730 Greens members to leading politicians of the party.
It says: “Even if the negotiating situation in Brussels is certainly difficult and we are sure that you are fighting for the implementation of the coalition agreement, it is difficult to understand why the German negotiating position does not come close to the contents of the coalition agreement.”
“Massive tightening of the failed Dublin system”
They were “shaken” by reports on the federal government’s priorities, the “Spiegel” quoted from the members’ letter: “The expansion of safer third countries, poorer legal protection, mandatory border procedures in detention camps and a massive tightening of the failed Dublin system are just a few of the Tightening of the law that is part of the proposed reform of the asylum system.”
According to the report, the letter was sent to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Economics Minister Robert Habeck, Family Minister Lisa Paus and the party leaders and the leaders of the Bundestag faction.
Baerbock criticizes border procedures
On Thursday in Luxembourg, the EU interior ministers will discuss the reform of the Common European Asylum System, which has been controversial for years. Among other things, it is about the question of whether there should be preliminary checks on asylum applications at the EU’s external borders. The federal government has shown itself open to this, but wants to ensure that minors under the age of 18 and families with children do not have to go through these procedures. Baerbock and Habeck had expressed themselves accordingly.
The Foreign Minister said that border procedures are highly problematic – but the EU Commission’s proposal is the only chance of achieving an “orderly and humane distribution procedure” in the foreseeable future.
“Don’t pour populism into law”
The senders of the letter call on the Greens in the government, the Bundestag and at the party leadership to be more self-confident in the asylum debate. “We do not expect the difficult situation in European asylum policy to change overnight. But we do expect that you, together with a lot of tailwind from the party, civil society and science, will help to ensure that populism is not cast in law and we win back the hegemony in the debate,” the “Spiegel” continued.
Among the signatories are the Hamburg Senator for Justice Anna Gallina, the parliamentary group leader in the Thuringian state parliament, Astrid Rothe-Beinlich, and Green Youth Co-Chief Timon Dzienus.
FDP sticks to reform
The FDP interior expert Stephan Thomae defends the plans for a reform of the EU asylum system. At the same time, the parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag called for compliance with human rights in asylum border procedures.
More and more people are coming to Europe – including those for whom the asylum system is not intended. “We have to distinguish: Who really needs help, protection? Who is really fleeing war, civil war and violence? And who isn’t? And we have to make this distinction when reorganizing the asylum system.”
The left flatly rejected the EU plans. The asylum expert of the left parliamentary group, Clara Bünger, warned in the ARD “Morgenmagazin” of a “massive disenfranchisement” of those seeking protection.