Berlin The Greens face a crucial test after the German government approved plans to tighten EU asylum rules.
Shortly after EU interior ministers announced the unification of the cantons in Luxembourg, the dual leadership of the Green Party and the parliamentary bloc spoke out, each with two different assessments.
After the Greens approved the difficult European compromise as part of a traffic light government with the SPD and FDP, some managers have publicly distanced themselves from it.
Co-leader Omid Nouripour responded to a series of tweets weighing the pros and cons, saying: “Overall, my conclusion is that today’s ratification is a necessary step forward together in Europe.”
Nouripour stands for Realo wing. Co-chair Ricarda Lang, who represents the party’s left wing, sounds different. Germany “should not have agreed to the council’s CEAS reform proposal today,” she wrote on Twitter.
“It’s a damn hard decision, and nobody takes it easy for themselves.” That’s why she respects everyone who “made a different decision than me in the overall assessment.” GEAS stands for Common European Asylum System. Faction leaders Brita Hasselmann (for) and Katharina Drog (against) see it as similar to party leaders.
The two parliamentary group leaders, Britta Hasselmann and Katharina Droger, expressed similar disagreements. Haßelmann defended the decision, Dröge opposed it.
Green MPs in the European Parliament have also been critical. “EU member states have lost their moral compass,” complained Rasmus Andresen, spokesman for the German Green Party in the European Parliament.
“Shamefully, the German Interior Minister Nancy Feiser, with the consent of the Traffic Light Union, also approved this proposal.” The parliamentary group rejected the council’s decision.
Timon Dzienus and Sarah-Lee Heinrich, the leadership duo of youth group Green Youth, said they were devastated. “This is inhumane and I will not accept such a compromise,” Dzienus wrote on Twitter. Heinrich wrote: “I am stunned. Foreclosure does not ensure that fewer people flee. It means that more people are suffering.” Nearly 500 Greens recently gave the party’s highest A letter from deputies warned against the asylum plan.
what was decided
EU asylum procedures will be significantly tightened in light of illegal immigration concerns. Enough ministers voted in favor of the sweeping reform plan. In particular, tougher treatment is planned for immigrants who leave no hope behind.
In the future, people from countries considered safe should enter strictly controlled reception facilities after transiting under conditions similar to detention.
(Photo: IMAGO/Olaf Schuelke)
In the future, people from countries considered safe should enter strictly controlled reception facilities after transiting under conditions similar to detention. There, applicants are checked for their chances of being granted asylum, usually within twelve weeks. If not, it should be sent back immediately.
During the negotiations, the federal government has made a point of exempting families with children from the so-called border process. Foreign Minister Annalena Belbok and Deputy Prime Minister Robert Harbeck (both Green) also spoke in this spirit. However, in order for the breakthrough to be possible, they eventually had to accept that it was possible.
Faeser: Federal government wants to continue advocating exceptions
Following the decision, Interior Minister Nancy Feather (SPD) said the federal government, along with Portugal, Ireland and Luxembourg, would continue to claim exceptions. It is also conceivable that the EU Parliament will push for change. It has a say in the reforms and will negotiate the project with representatives of EU countries in the coming months.
In addition to stricter procedures, more solidarity
In addition, the plan decided on Thursday also provides more solidarity for member states whose external borders are burdened by the bloc. In the future, it should no longer be voluntary, but mandatory. Countries that do not want to take refugees will be forced to pay compensation.
>> Read here: ‘Borders would be an absolute disaster’ – Economy calls for deal on EU asylum reform
As a result, countries such as Hungary voted against the plan. According to the responsible commissioner Ylva Johansson, rejected asylum seekers can in principle also be deported to non-EU countries in the future. The only requirement should be that they have ties to the country.
what role did habaek and bel bok play
Foreign Minister Annalena Belbok and Deputy Prime Minister Habeck defended the compromise, citing the need for a deal in Europe. “I have a lot of respect for those who have received other ratings for humanitarian reasons,” Habeck told DPA. “I hope they also see reason to acknowledge the result.”
EU asylum procedures will be significantly tightened in light of illegal immigration concerns.
(Photo: dpa)
During her visit to Colombia on Thursday, Bell Bock canceled part of her show to facilitate a compromise between the party and the parliamentary group over the video switch. Shortly after the agreement was struck, she publicly took her stand with Cali. “Honestly, if we as the federal government could decide on reforms ourselves, then it would look different,” she said. “But honesty also means that anyone who thinks this compromise is unacceptable accepts that no one will be distributed in the future.”
>> Read here: More refugees in Italy: Right-wing government decides on state of emergency
In short: If the external border states Italy and Greece were defeated in the Luxembourg vote and not included in the compromise, the required triad of registration, allocation and border procedures would not work anyway. The willingness of Rome or Athens to participate in the registration will be close to zero – the whole concept will fail.
>> Read here: ‘Borders would be an absolute disaster’ – Economy calls for EU asylum reform
In her statement, Bell Book has made very clear what the government’s responsibility in the balancing act means to her: For example, if Germany votes against the compromise with Poland and Hungary, “a joint European asylum policy based on solidarity will be .” Anyone who wants to build a wall in Europe will get a free ticket. “This compromise is also necessary in order to protect our Europe with uncontrolled internal borders,” she added.
With proxy material.
more: EU tightens asylum process and allocates refugees – Orbán and Greens announce boycott