Coalition: Agreement on refugee accommodation

For a long time, the red-black-green coalition struggled to reach an agreement on the accommodation of the numerous refugees.

Now there is a concept: According to this, fewer refugees should be sent to the municipalities and the places in the initial receptions should be expanded.

Potsdam - After a long dispute, the red-black-green government coalition has agreed on a concept for accommodating the numerous refugees in Brandenburg.

This concept approved by the cabinet should serve as a basis for further talks with the municipalities, said government spokesman Florian Engels on Tuesday on request.

There will be a refugee summit with the district administrators and mayors on March 29, which was postponed almost two weeks ago because of the coalition dispute.

Concrete details on the measures for the accommodation and integration of the refugees were not given.

"The state is firmly on the side of the municipalities," said Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD).

“We expect the same from the federal government.

I am sure that together we will also master this great challenge.”

Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) said the coalition partners had agreed on compromises after intensive talks.

"People without a concrete prospect of a residence permit should no longer be distributed to the municipalities in the future," said Stübgen.

"We will expand the accommodation capacities and at the same time improve the quality of care."

According to the minister, the capacity of the initial reception facilities should first be expanded.

According to the cabinet bill, a start has already been made on creating 3,000 additional places in the initial reception.

Because of the tense situation in the municipalities, the state government wants to “maximize” the possible length of stay for refugees in the initial reception of up to 18 months and “in special cases” examine a length of stay of up to 24 months.

At the same time, people without a secure right to stay who stay longer than six months in the initial reception should be given the prospect of a later residence permit with offers for qualification or the return to their home country should be made easier with offers of advice.

Social Affairs Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) emphasized that the country would give significantly more money for integration offers and migration social work.

"The state will provide the municipalities with central interpreting services for communication between refugees and authorities, hospitals, medical practices, daycare centers or advice centers." There are also additional funds to create accommodation options.

Stübgen originally wanted to accommodate refugees with no prospects of staying in a state shelter instead of in the municipalities.

He could not enforce this against the Greens and SPD.

For Stübgen, however, the last word has not yet been spoken.

"In the long term I will continue to support the creation of a state transitional facility, but now it was more important to me that we take measures that will take effect quickly," he said.

26,000 refugees are expected for Brandenburg's municipalities this year - about as many as in 2015, the year of the so-called refugee crisis.

The municipalities see themselves at the limit or even beyond.

They are demanding more help with accommodation, in daycare centers, schools and medical care.

From the state's aid package to cushion the energy crisis, the municipalities will receive an additional 49 million euros this year in order to be able to create another 7,000 places to accommodate refugees.

In addition, almost 5 million euros will be used to create 62 social work positions for migrants.

dpa