From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner sees the resolutions of the Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK) on Friday as important steps towards a new refugee policy.
“The Prime Ministers agree: We need a change of course in migration policy in Germany,” said the CDU politician on Friday after the meeting in Frankfurt/Main.
Wegner discussed the care of refugees, who currently generally receive cash. “In order to avoid false incentives, we are calling for a nationwide uniform payment card,” said Wegner. “The federal government, in consultation with the states, must quickly create the conditions for this and ensure that it is implemented quickly throughout Germany.”
The return of rejected asylum seekers must be implemented consistently, said Wegner. “The heads of government of the federal states therefore aim, together with the federal government, to complete asylum procedures for nationals from countries for which the recognition rate is less than five percent more quickly than before.”
All of these are first but important steps towards a change of course.
The Governing Mayor of Berlin Kai Wegner (CDU) in the House of Representatives (archive photo) Photo: Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
It’s about enforcing humanity and order equally, explained Wegner. In recent months, states and municipalities have reached the limits of their ability to accommodate and integrate refugees and in some cases even exceeded them.
“That’s why the federal government must now finally provide the states with significantly more financial support for accommodation. This is the only way we will be able to overcome this challenge.” The Prime Ministers have agreed on a financing model – now it is the federal government’s turn.