Status: 06.11.2023, 17:50 PM
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The shadow of a ballpoint pen looms on an initial asylum application. © Julian Stratenschulte/dpa/Illustration
The starting point for the federal-state summit on migration was already difficult. Then the states led by the CDU, CSU and Greens also opened a new barrel. The result was more open than ever in the early evening.
Berlin - The federal states led by the CDU, CSU and Greens are jointly campaigning for asylum procedures outside Europe. At the preliminary talks for the federal-state summit in the Chancellery on Monday in Berlin, they agreed to back a corresponding proposal by North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU). Initially, it was unclear whether asylum seekers should be returned from Germany to these countries for this purpose or whether they should be able to apply for protection there before entering Germany.
The reduction of the drastic increase in the number of asylum seekers this year and the financing of the accommodation of refugees are the main topics of what is probably the most important federal-state summit since the Corona pandemic. The meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime ministers of the 15 states, which was originally planned for 16 p.m., was significantly delayed because the states were unable to reach an agreement.
Massive annoyance among the SPD-led states
This was mainly due to the fact that the states led by the CDU and CSU surprisingly agreed in the morning with the Green Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann from Baden-Württemberg on new proposals for the consultations - including the outsourcing of asylum procedures from the EU. This caused massive annoyance among the SPD-led states. As a result, the negotiations between the countries dragged on in the early evening. Originally, it had been assumed that it would only be difficult between Scholz and the states and that the negotiations would drag on into the night.
Wüst had made the push for asylum procedures outside the EU a few days before the migration summit. Scholz had reacted cautiously to this. The idea is to carry out the asylum procedures along the escape routes. However, Scholz pointed out that this would first require at least one partner country, for example in Africa.
In the coalition agreement, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP had already agreed to examine whether such a procedure would be possible "in exceptional cases" in third countries outside the EU - in compliance with the Geneva Convention on Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights. Sources in the Federal Ministry of the Interior commented on Monday: "In view of the legal and factual complexity of the issue, the examination is still ongoing. The decisive factor for the Federal Government is compliance with applicable European and international law requirements."
A concrete proposal from the British government illustrates the hurdles. It wants people who have entered the UK irregularly, regardless of their origin, to be detained without their asylum application being examined and deported to Rwanda as soon as possible, where they should then also apply for asylum. There are no plans to return to the UK. A high British court had declared the plans illegal. The British government has appealed the decision, pending the decision of the UK's highest court.
CDU/CSU and Green countries also want to tighten asylum law
However, the states led by the CDU, CSU and Greens made other proposals. They also want to tighten asylum laws to prevent abuse. In addition, they want to stop voluntary admission programs of the federal government, with the exception of the program for the admission of German local staff from Afghanistan.
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The states also want to achieve increased controls at Germany's borders and reduced benefits for asylum seekers, as well as harsher penalties for demonstrations that glorify violence. The interior ministers are to draw up a proposal on how criminals could more easily lose their protection in Germany and be deported. A cross-party commission is to draw up proposals to manage migration and improve integration.
Refugee costs were the real main point of contention
The actual main point of contention of the federal-state summit - the distribution of the costs for refugees - unexpectedly faced competition with the new paper. The states accuse the federal government of wanting to reduce its share from 3.75 billion euros this year to 1.25 billion euros next year, which is unacceptable. In a decision in mid-October, the states had demanded a lump sum of 1.25 billion euros and at least 10,500 euros per migrant.
And then there are a few other questions that needed to be clarified and have nothing to do with migration. Scholz wants to speed up planning and approval procedures so that Germany remains competitive. For example, it is about how wind turbines, power lines, railway lines and homes can be built more quickly. More renewable energies should also lead to lower electricity prices. For months, the federal and state governments have been working out the details at the working level, but the state premiers still have to give the green light. On Monday afternoon, it was said that there were hardly any open questions.
Deutschlandticket: Will train travel become more expensive again?
The situation is more difficult with the Deutschlandticket for nationwide public transport. In the early evening, there were still no signs of an agreement. The states are demanding that the federal government continue to cover half of any additional costs in 2024. This was only agreed for the introductory year 2023. This concerns any loss of revenue that exceeds three billion euros.
The federal and state governments are already contributing half of this sum in order to keep the offer for transport companies economical. The federal government has already dampened expectations of new commitments, pointing to the tense budget situation - and that it will not be possible to quantify the actual additional costs until the end of 2024. Another option in principle would be to raise the "introductory price" of 49 euros per month. Consumer advocates have already warned against this. Dpa