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Seehofer's refugee strategy with Poland: “Totally wrong policy” or “completely inappropriate criticism”?

2021-10-27T14:19:56.409Z


In an open letter, Horst Seehofer is criticized for his migration policy with Poland. Opposite Merkur.de politicians from several parliamentary groups speak about the current situation.


In an open letter, Horst Seehofer is criticized for his migration policy with Poland.

Opposite Merkur.de politicians from several parliamentary groups speak about the current situation.

Munich - Since August, thousands of migrants - mostly from the Middle East and Africa - have tried to cross the Polish border from Belarus.

The current situation at Poland's external borders is tense, so that the outgoing Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer is challenged again in the last days and weeks of his term of office.

Migration policy: Seehofer writes a letter to Poland's Minister of the Interior, Kaminski

Seehofer had recently chosen a strategy approaching Poland and expressed understanding for the construction of a border barrier on the border with Belarus.

"It is legitimate that we protect the external border in such a way that undetected border crossings at the green border are prevented," Seehofer said last of the

picture on Sunday

.

He announced that he would increase controls in the German-Polish border area.

Seehofer had written his Polish counterpart Mariusz Kaminski a letter in mid-October.

In it, he thanked the Polish government and the border guards for ensuring that the common EU external border was protected “especially in view of the difficult political framework conditions in relation to Belarus” in order to prevent illegal migration via Belarus into the European Union as much as possible.

Open letter to Seehofer: Pole criticizes interior minister for "insolence"

In an open letter to Seehofer, this thanks to Kaminski is now sharply criticized. The letter comes from Marcin Tumulka, who turned to Seehofer as a “citizen of Poland who must be ashamed of his country”. Tumulka is an activist who campaigns for refugees in the border region and has been involved in the government-critical civil movement Komitet Obrony Demokracji (Committee for the Defense of Democracy).

In the letter available to

Merkur.de

, it is criticized that Seehofer had “the insolence” to thank a politician who was responsible for the fact that “Polish authorities break the Geneva Convention, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and even Polish law”. The Polish government has been criticized for violating EU law at its border. There are allegations that Poland's border guards are pushing migrants back across the border with so-called pushbacks. Pushbacks are illegal within the meaning of the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. According to these, asylum seekers must be given the opportunity to apply for asylum. Journalists and activists are also not allowed to enter the exclusion zone that has now been set up in the border region.

At the end of the letter it says: "I can only be surprised that you, a member of a Christian party, praise a Polish minister for his lawlessness." In an interview with

Merkur.de

Tumulka makes it clear that he is not interested in the migration-related decisions of German politics per se.

Rather, he is bothered by the, in his opinion, uncritical clinging to Poland and the “blind support” of the Polish government.

“It looks like Mr. Seehofer thinks he's talking to a perfectly normal colleague.

But that is not the case, Mariusz Kaminski and the Polish government break European law every day, ”says Tumulka.

A blind man would understand that if he were to deal with the situation in Poland's border region.

The Ministry of the Interior did not want to comment on request and referred to the government press conference in which Seehofer had presented his migration strategy.

Opposite

Merkur.de

however, other politicians from different political groups speak.

Zaklin Nastic (left): "I don't get enough criticism of Poland"

The left-wing member of the Bundestag, Zaklin Nastic, who was born in Poland, also shows a lack of understanding for the interior minister's statements.

Nastic finds it "shocking that the Federal Minister of the Interior, in view of the reports from the Polish-Belarusian border, speaks of a joint German-Polish patrol instead of condemning the inhumane treatment of the Polish border guards with refugees." Duty: "Yes, I miss out on criticism of the Polish government's dealings with refugees - just like criticism of the widespread racism that the Polish government instigated."

The left-wing politician rates Horst Seehofer's approach as “completely wrong” and also criticizes the way in which Belarus is dealt with: “It is also wrong to threaten new sanctions against Belarus now, as Seehofer did.” This creates a spiral of Reaction and counter-reaction turned further and further.

"Above all, however, the conflict is being carried out on the back of people who seek protection from war and persecution and who have been forced to endure in inhumane conditions for many months, if not years."

+

Zaklin Nastic has been a member of the Bundestag since 2017 and is the spokesperson for the left-wing parliamentary group on human rights policy.

© Political Moments / Imago

Germany must "actually fight the causes of flight instead of promoting them further through arms exports and foreign missions." But that has not happened in the past: United Nations register more refugees every year. "

According to Nastic, it is questionable whether the situation will change in a new government.

Migration policy also depends on which party provides the interior minister.

Since the FDP has mostly prevailed in the previous traffic light talks, however, “nothing good can be expected”.

Nastic refers to the point system for immigrants mentioned in the exploratory paper.

“According to this, only those who bring us economic benefits should come into the country.

I call that utility racism. "

Nils Schmid (SPD): "Not every criticism of a government has to be made public"

According to Nils Schmid, the foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Seehofer's thanks to Kaminski meanwhile are not glossing over the situation in Poland. "Politically responsible action also means that not every criticism of a government is made public," says Schmid. The meanwhile around 6,000 unauthorized crossings on the German-Polish border are "a very high number" and the situation is "still very serious". But: "The current situation is not comparable to that in 2015."

Schmid, state chairman of the SPD in Baden-Württemberg from 2009 to 2016, criticizes the pushbacks at Poland's external borders.

"The violent pushing back of refugees by the Polish border guards and the lack of humanitarian supplies are unacceptable and represent, among other things, a violation of international law."

Schmid demands that Germany's neighboring country adhere to the relevant standards.

“The German government but also the EU Commission have renewed their support for external border protection vis-à-vis Poland.

The ball is therefore now with the government in Warsaw. ”At the same time, more sanctions are needed against Belarus and“ third countries that help and benefit from the instrumentalisation of refugees and migrants by the Lukashenko regime ”.

+

Nils Schmid has been the foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group since 2018.

© Britta Pedersen / dpa

Schmid points out that the SPD, Greens and FDP will commit themselves to humanitarian responsibility, the European Convention on Human Rights and the Geneva Convention on Refugees in the coalition negotiations that will begin on Wednesday (October 27).

“From this, clear recommendations and guidelines for a future three-party coalition can be derived.” A possible traffic light coalition would “be very interested in a good neighborly relationship and thus in a close exchange with the Polish government.” The member of the Bundestag is involved in the coalition negotiations .

Bijan Djir-Sarai (FDP): despite tensions - "a blanket all-round criticism is completely inappropriate"

The FDP will probably also be involved in this traffic light coalition. The foreign policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Bijan Djir-Sarai, expects that a new government will “have to deal intensively with the management of migration and flight and the corresponding framework”. In the case of the central additional challenge of combating the causes of flight, this is a matter of course and "anything but an inexpensive phrase".

In the current German-Polish relationship, there are "constant tensions".

But that doesn't change anything about the “need for dialogue and cooperation”.

Pointing the finger is out of place when it comes to the complex issue of protecting the EU's external borders.

"A blanket all-round review is completely inappropriate," says Djir-Sarai, who was born in Iran and grew up in North Rhine-Westphalia.

"The way in which Poland is currently endeavoring to secure its border with Belarus has been criticized by many voices." Overall, "it is to be welcomed that the federal government is trying to support our neighbors constructively".

+

In the coalition talks, FDP foreign politician Bijan Djir-Sarai is involved in the working group on foreign affairs, security, defense, development and human rights.

© Jörg Carstensen / picture alliance

Djir-Sarai concerns Belarus and its ruler Alexander Lukashenko in particular. He ensures a "threatening" situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. "It's bold how these people

(the migrants on the border, d. Ed.)

Lukashenko misused them purely as a means of exerting pressure in order to increase the migration pressure on the EU on this flank. "I criticize the fact that the federal government is now partially adopting the argument that we could solve the problems with a control of the internal borders, that is between Poland and Germany." Sees facets ”. We need sanctions for Belarus. “Rather, we have to start with the Belarusian dictator Lukashenko and we have to identify exactly who is practically supporting his tactics in other countries. Then we as the EU should also come up with further sanctions. ”Nonetheless, Poland should“ act more transparently ”on the border with Belarus.

Mathias Middelberg (CDU): "As a last resort, we have to prepare for national border controls" 

The Union, too, is making Belarus responsible rather than Poland.

"The regime in Minsk uses migrants as weapons," says Mathias Middelberg, domestic policy spokesman for the CDU / CSU parliamentary group.

“That is absolutely shabby and has to be stopped.

The EU and Germany must not allow themselves to be blackmailed. ”One must increase the pressure and also consider further sanctions against airlines, for example.

Middelberg finds it essential that the EU's external border "is effectively protected against illegal crossings". This requires full support for Poland but also for Lithuania and Latvia, the other two EU states with an external border with Belarus. Middelberg makes it clear that "of course" the applicable international and EU law must be complied with. “Germany in particular, which already bears the main burden of migration in the EU, should also offer the countries concerned bilateral support.” This could be done at the German-Polish border through the existing control options such as the veil search. Border controls are conceivable as a last resort. "If the number of migrants via the Eastern European route continues to increase, as a last resort we have to prepare for national border controls." 

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Mathias Middelberg is the domestic political spokesman for the CDU / CSU parliamentary group.

The lawyer, who was born in Osnabrück, is also chairman of the Lower Saxony CDU regional group.

© Political Moments / Imago

Alexander Throm (CDU): "Now solidarity and support are effective"

Middelberg's group colleague Alexander Throm puts Germany's “close relationship” with Poland in the foreground and says: “In the current situation, in my opinion, solidarity and support are more effective if one does not want to worsen the humanitarian situation of those affected any further. Germany has not only offered Poland help with border protection, but also, for example, with the accommodation of migrants. ”Throm is chairman of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group in the interior committee. In the current debate, a distinction must also be made between border protection and border closure: "Border protection is not synonymous with rejection." It is about preventing illegal migration and supporting Poland in this context. "This is the only way we can prevent people from being further instrumentalized."

Throm also holds Belarus accountable.

"The causes of the situation must be fought as a matter of priority, that is, the Belarusian action must be stopped." The deputy chairman of the CDU / CSU working group Home and Home also speaks of sanctions such as an EU-wide landing ban for Belarusian airlines.

"The EU must show that it cannot be blackmailed: the pressure on Belarus must be increased, for example by suspending the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Belarus for official delegations and other officials."

Max Lucks (Greens): "Traffic light will show full commitment to Poland for the rights of civil society"

Meanwhile, Max Lucks, member of the Bundestag for the Green Party, is also taking Germany to account. Because "Lukashenko's strategy only works because the reaction of Europe and Poland, but also Germany, lies in isolation," explains Lucks. "This worsens the humanitarian situation on the border between Belarus and Poland, which is already devastating for those seeking protection." Lucks sharply criticizes the handling of migrants at Poland's external borders. "The Polish government must adhere to European standards and stop pushbacks immediately."

Lucks calls for the problems in Poland to be named more clearly.

A possible traffic light government made up of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP would be “a coalition of human rights”.

“With regard to Poland, the next government will show its full commitment to the rights of the vibrant civil society in our neighboring country.” It is also a matter of paying more attention to sexual minorities and women.

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Max Lucks was the spokesman for the Green Youth from 2017 to 2019.

At the age of 24, he is the fifth youngest member of the new Bundestag.

© Revierfoto / Imago

Migration: Criticism of Poland, but especially of Lukashenko's Belarus

The refugee issue is being dealt with quite often these days. The German policy around Interior Minister Horst Seehofer inevitably comes into focus. In discussions with the various parliamentary groups, the work of the CSU politician is not accepted uncritically, but at the same time it is not badly talked about either. One thing is clear: Poland is currently open to attack, but Belarus' political activities are viewed much more critically.

The EU assumes that Lukashenko will retaliate against sanctions decisions taken in Brussels.

It is believed that the Belarusian authorities are bringing migrants into the country in a targeted manner and smuggling them to the borders with the eastern EU states.

Several migrants have already died in the border area.

The situation on the Polish-Belarusian border is particularly explosive.

The issue now also affects the border with Germany - and the current and future federal government will continue to occupy itself with it.

(as)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-10-27

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