Around 1900 Syrians have entered the country via the state program
A state program launched ten years ago had enabled 1883 people from Syria to safely join family members in Brandenburg by the end of September this year. This is according to answers from the Ministry of the Interior in Potsdam to questions from state parliament member Andrea Johlige (Left Party). This means that the number of entries from the civil war country to family members is far higher than previously known. The state's integration commissioner, Doris Lemmermeier, had given the figure as 964 in mid-October, citing information from the ministry.
Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) wants to end the state's admission regulations for refugees from Syria, which were issued in 2013 and allowed for simplified family reunification, at the end of this year. In mid-October, a spokesperson for the ministry explained that the conditions for the program, which has been extended and amended several times, could no longer be implemented.
According to the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior, from this year onwards, the local authorities are required by the Federal Ministry of the Interior to prove in individual cases that the flight from Syria was not only due to the civil war, but also due to a current emergency situation. Proving this is difficult or even impossible. In addition, the majority of Syrian relatives of solvent people living in Germany are not in such need of help that there is a current emergency or hardship.
Integration Commissioner Lemmermeier had sharply criticized the planned discontinuation of the programme at the end of the year and spoke of a one-sided decision. The program had been able to bring many people from Syria safely to their relatives in Brandenburg. The municipalities had not incurred any costs and the state's expenditure was manageable, she said, calling for the program to be extended for another year.
Lemmermeier expressed skepticism that Stübgen could be persuaded to change his mind. "There are attempts to influence the minister and others through various channels," she told the German Press Agency. "But I am not optimistic."
The sudden increase in Syrian refugees in Brandenburg, beyond the previously known 964, has sparked discussions about the state's migration policies. Despite the challenges in proving that their migration is due to a current emergency situation, many Syrians seeking family reunification have been entering the country.
Source: www.dpa.com
