Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) is demanding more money from the federal government for the care of refugees. “Berlin has been one of them for years Cities with the highest admission rate. However, our absorption capacity has limits because our accommodation, education, integration and financing options are limited,” the CDU politician told the “Spiegel” shortly before the refugee summit planned for next Wednesday in the Chancellery.
The federal government must take the calls for help from local actors seriously. This is the only way that good living conditions can be maintained for local people and those seeking protection. “The distribution of the refugees must therefore be regulated fairly.” This also applies to the financial burden that Berlin bears in particular. “Here I expect that the federal government will live up to its responsibility and provide the federal states with more financial support,” said Wegner.
Berlin’s new Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) predicted difficult talks for Wednesday: “We are discussing with the federal government how the burden will be shared in view of this extreme situation. The federal government is making an elegantly slim foot at the moment, and honestly it can’t stay that way, ”explained Evers on Monday morning on RBB Inforadio.
“The states have little influence, just like the municipalities, on the framework conditions for immigration,” said the CDU politician. The costs of accommodation must therefore be discussed. Berlin is moving in line with many other federal states. “And there will certainly be tough debates on Wednesday.” Evers said that the aim was to accommodate people who arrive in Berlin in a humane manner. But the situation is extremely tense. “Of course, that has a lot to do with the situation in Ukraine.”
Prime Minister Wegner praised the initiative by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) to decide on certain asylum procedures in asylum centers directly on the EU’s external borders. “The Interior Minister’s proposal has our full support.” When accepting the refugees, the principles of humanity and order must apply.
“We must make a clear distinction between the necessary and expressly desired immigration of skilled workers, asylum seekers and those seeking protection, and irregular migration with no prospect of staying,” said the CDU politician. “Only if we improve the protection of the external borders and speed up asylum procedures will our resources be used in a targeted and concentrated manner for those who have real prospects of staying.” (dpa)
