Less prevention, more design: Hamburg’s Archbishop Hess would like politicians to deal with migrants differently. The Catholic priest expressed concern about the EU’s asylum plans.
The special representative of the German Bishops’ Conference for refugee issues, Archbishop Stefan Hesse of Hamburg, has criticized the way refugees are treated in Germany and Europe. “In the political discourse, the focus is often on strategies to prevent migration,” said Hesse of the German Press Agency in Berlin. “It would be important to see migration more as a political task.”
Hesse said on the occasion of a “Catholic Refugee Summit”: “In essence, it should be about creating the right framework conditions for Germany to live up to its responsibility as a modern immigration country and at the same time as a country of refugee protection.” The comparatively uncomplicated and integration-friendly regulations for Ukrainian refugees have shown: “The fewer the hurdles, the easier it is for admission and integration to succeed. Political lessons can be learned from this.”
Hesse on EU asylum plans: “worrying”
Hess also criticized the European reform plans for the asylum system. “The EU’s plan to accommodate refugees at the EU’s external borders under conditions similar to detention is worrying,” he said. Such a reform does not solve problems, but creates new humanitarian hardships.
“A look at the hotspots in Greece makes it clear what conditions are to be feared,” said Hesse. “The accommodation in large camps and the implementation of fast-track procedures at the external borders are simply unacceptable, especially for vulnerable groups. Instead, it takes courage to stand up for a European refugee policy that is based on human rights.”
In particular, the EU states plan to treat migrants with no prospects of staying much tougher. In the future, people arriving from countries that are considered safe should come to strictly controlled reception facilities after crossing the border. There, it would normally be checked within twelve weeks whether the applicant has a chance of asylum. If not, it should be sent back immediately. It is conceivable that the EU Parliament will push through changes to the plans.
Boat accident “not an inevitable tragedy”
Hesse also linked the recent serious accident involving a ship full of migrants south-west of Greece with many deaths to the EU’s asylum policy. “It is not an inevitable tragedy, but also a consequence of the failure of European refugee policy,” he said. “Deterrence must not take precedence over humanity.” Effective state sea rescue and more legal access routes to Europe are needed.
Source: Stern
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