A refugee settlement in Brück in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district.
(Photo: dpa)
Shortly before the refugee summit, the 16 federal states agreed on their own concept for future refugee financing. In an 11-page draft for the statement of the federal-state summit meeting on Wednesday, which is available to the Reuters news agency, they insist that the federal government transfer significantly more money to the states and municipalities.
“The Chancellor and the heads of government of the federal states agree that the migration movements of recent years are a lasting development,” the paper says. “A financing model is required that is appropriate in terms of amount and adapts to changing refugee numbers (breathing system)”, emphasize the countries in the paper approved on Monday evening.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz will receive the 16 Prime Ministers at the refugee summit in the Chancellery. With the proposal of their own resolution paper, the federal states are rejecting consultation on the draft submitted by the Chancellery, which primarily refers to the commitments that have already been made. However, the federal and state governments come up with completely different numbers as to how large the allocations in the various pots actually are.
The federal government speaks of 15.6 billion euros this year. A government spokesman pointed out again on Monday that according to the constitution, responsibility lies with the federal states and local authorities. These had agreed on a common position on Monday morning. The positions have therefore hardened two days before the top meeting.
Countries are demanding a 1,000 euro per capita allowance for refugees
The federal states are now demanding full reimbursement of the costs for accommodation and heating for refugees as well as payment of a monthly per capita flat rate for refugees. In a paper from the finance ministers’ conference, a lump sum of around 1,000 euros was mentioned on Sunday. In addition, the federal government should contribute more to the costs for the integration of all refugees and the costs for unaccompanied minors. The 2.75 billion euros promised by the federal government in November 2022 for refugees from Ukraine and refugees from other countries were not enough, they say.
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In their new paper, the federal states also go into other aspects of dealing with refugees and migrants – from border protection to the faster return of rejected asylum seekers and the return of applicants to the EU’s external border states. The paper expressly points out that many municipalities are overwhelmed. “The calls for help and notices of overload from the municipalities, volunteers and other actors on site, who have done great things under difficult conditions in recent years, must be taken seriously,” it says.
The 16 countries pledge that the asylum procedures for nationals from Moldova and Georgia will be accelerated because these countries have the prospect of joining the EU. The federal government should present a draft law as soon as possible.
More: The federal government is spending 27 billion euros on the refugee crisis this year