The traffic light classifies Moldova and Georgia as safe countries of origin in which there is generally no threat of persecution. Should this also apply to several North African states?
In the coalition, the FDP is pushing for more states to be declared so-called safe countries of origin in order to make deportations there easier. Finance Minister Christian Lindner also proposed protection of the EU’s external border and asylum procedures from abroad. “What is legally possible to prevent irregular migration should be initiated politically,” said the FDP leader to “Welt am Sonntag”. Irregular immigration has increased sharply in recent months.
In view of this, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wants to intensify the fight against human smuggling. “We are setting up an operational analysis center at the federal police. This will evaluate all cases of smuggling in order to quickly identify connections between the cases and the perpetrators,” said the Social Democrat to “Bild am Sonntag”.
Interior Minister Faeser: Law against smugglers
A month before the Hesse election, in which she is the SPD’s top candidate, Faeser also announced tightening of the law. “We want to expel smugglers quickly and consistently; we have to regulate this clearly in the law,” she said, without being more specific. “We also need another change: Up until now, smuggling minors has not been punishable because they do not enter the country illegally. Nobody understands that.” She once again rejected the Union’s demand for stationary controls at the borders – as was the case with Austria -: This “purely symbolic policy” would tie up too many staff.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr told the newspapers of the Funke media group that the classification of Moldova and Georgia as safe countries of origin decided by the traffic light coalition should not remain. “I thought it would be right to also discuss the Maghreb states.” These include Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, among others. However, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) rejects expanding the list of safe countries of origin, as she had previously told the Funke newspapers.
Kretschmer: “Tunisia is a safe country of origin”
Safe countries of origin are those in which it is assumed that there is generally neither persecution nor inhumane or degrading treatment and that the foreigner concerned is therefore not at risk of serious harm in his or her home country. This would make it easier for an asylum application to be rejected. This currently applies to the EU member states, the Balkan countries, Ghana and Senegal.
The Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) told Deutschlandfunk in the “Interview of the Week” that Tunisia has an asylum recognition rate of less than one percent. “This is a safe country of origin.” But it is also one from which a larger proportion of multiple and intensive offenders come. The immigration of skilled workers is needed. However, they would bring family and children with them and need support. “This is also why we have to ensure that the issue of illegal migration is limited to a level that is justifiable.”
Wagenknecht also calls for migration to be limited
The managing director of the Association of Cities and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, reported on growing resistance to new refugee accommodation in the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (“NOZ”/Saturday). “Many municipalities have reached their limits when it comes to accommodation, care and integration of refugees. This is leading to local discontent increasing.” There is a lack of accommodation, but also places in schools and daycare centers.
The left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht also called for limiting migration in the “NOZ”. Anyone who is really being persecuted deserves protection, but beyond that: “There are limits beyond which our country is overwhelmed and integration no longer works.”
In contrast, Left leader Martin Schirdewan rejected the classification of the Maghreb states as safe countries of origin. In the Funke newspapers he pointed out arrests of opposition members and racism against migrants there and called Algeria “a de facto dictatorship”.
The spokesman for the German Greens in the EU Parliament, Rasmus Andresen, criticized the FDP’s demands. “An expansion of the safe countries of origin will not bring any relief at all in local communities when it comes to caring for refugees,” he told the “Tagesspiegel am Sonntag”.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
