Despite resistance from the Union parties, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer remains in his plan for a European quota system for the distribution of migrants rescued from distress. European partners have offered the CSU politician, Germany could accommodate a quarter of those seeking protection, as in the past.
The model that Seehofer wants to bring in at the meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg at the beginning of October is limited to half a year and can be canceled at any time unilaterally, "if we detect abuse or the numbers are too high," said the Minister of the Interior SPIEGEL.
With these safety clauses "I see no danger for Germany", so Seehofer. Also, a pull effect could not arise. For the criticism of the Union colleagues Seehofer has no understanding: "I have heard from some, one must show attitude in the asylum policy." Nothing else I do now. "
Since July 2018, only 2,200 people have been rescued mostly by NGOs from the Mediterranean. Just 225 of them have come to Germany so far. "225 castaways in a year should be too much?" Seehofer asks. "If we can not do that, we're all too discouraged for a big European solution."
However, this is urgently needed, the Minister said: "We are experiencing migratory pressure from very different directions, which can only be countered with a European solution." The French and the new Italian governments are opening up a "historic window of opportunity" for a European asylum compromise.
This topic comes from the new SPIEGEL magazine - available at the kiosk from Saturday morning and every Friday at SPIEGEL + and in the digital magazine edition.
What is in the new SPIEGEL and what stories you find at SPIEGEL +, you will also learn in our free policy newsletter DIE LAGE, which appears six times a week - compact, analytical, opinionated, written by the political minds of the editorial.