Germany sends appeal for help EU discusses refugee distribution
03/28/2022 07:54
According to the UN, more than 3.8 million people have already left Ukraine. Due to the lack of reception capacity, Germany and Poland appeal to the EU Commission for help. Federal Interior Minister Faeser has already failed to demand distribution quotas.
Faced with the huge influx of refugees from Ukraine, the European Union is threatened with a new dispute over the distribution of those seeking protection. Interior ministers from the 27 EU countries will discuss joint action in Brussels this afternoon. Germany and Poland had already addressed an urgent appeal to the EU Commission for help. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is pushing for quotas for the distribution of refugees in Europe. However, EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson had already rejected such demands.
According to the UN, more than 3.8 million of the more than 44 million Ukrainians have left the country since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine. More than 2 million arrived in Poland alone, according to the Ministry of the Interior, about 267,000 refugees were registered in Germany. “It is safe to say that our countries are now making most efforts to welcome people from Ukraine and offer them protection,” reads the letter from Faeser and his Polish colleague Mariusz Kaminski to the European Commission. “It’s clear that our resources and capacity won’t be enough to handle the growing influx of people.”
The meeting in Brussels is the second crisis meeting of interior ministers called at the last minute since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine on 24 February. Faeser told the Rheinische Post that he has “strong management, pragmatic solutions and comprehensive support for Ukraine’s neighboring countries, which are particularly under pressure.” “The EU Commission will have to play a central role here”, demanded the SPD politician. A “historical solidarity” was achieved and rapid and unbureaucratic protection of refugees was provided in all EU countries. “Now the second step must follow: fair distribution across the EU,” Faeser emphasized.
1000 euros per refugee required
In early March, EU states decided to offer protection to all Ukrainians quickly and without bureaucracy. However, the large number of refugees poses challenges for the international community. Quick solutions at European level are urgently needed, write Faeser and Kaminski. Cooperation must be expanded to bring those seeking protection to EU countries that are willing to welcome them. The solidarity platform created by the European Commission should help with the organization. Refugees with no specific destination would have to be informed about countries with free capacity. Faeser and Kamniski appeal to all EU states to welcome people.
The discussion about a mandatory distribution of refugees had already deeply divided EU states after the great refugee movement of 2015/2016. A reform of the common asylum and migration policy has been stalled for years.
In view of the costs of accommodating and caring for refugees, Faeser and Kaminski’s letter states: “Our financial needs already amount to several billion euros and additional support is needed immediately.” The EU Commission should work on simple and flexible funding options that cover at least part of the costs. This could be a lump sum of €1,000 per refugee for the first six months. According to estimates, the costs to the Polish state during this period amounted to at least 2.2 billion euros.
This is exactly what Brussels should be. On the agenda is the question of how EU states that host people seeking protection can receive financial and material support. The return journey of refugees after arriving in an EU country must also be coordinated. Furthermore, it should be about support for the small country of Moldova, where many refugees have already arrived, as well as controls at the EU’s external borders and security issues.