Municipalities want solution to refugee costs
Ahead of the top-level meeting on migration policy in Berlin on Monday, the municipalities in Baden-Württemberg are once again calling for quick solutions when it comes to financing the accommodation and care of refugees. "Effective decisions are urgently needed now, politicians must act," said the President of the Baden-Württemberg Municipal Association, Steffen Jäger, to the German Press Agency in Stuttgart. "There must be no need for another federal-state round, another postponement would be unacceptable."
On Monday, the Minister Presidents of the federal states will meet with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Berlin. The main topic will be how to deal with increasing immigration. The federal states are demanding more money and better control from the federal government and reaffirmed their position in a joint resolution in October. Among other things, they are demanding a general lump sum of 1.25 billion euros per year and at least 10,500 euros per migrant per year from the federal government.
"Six months after the last federal-state conference, the minister presidents and the Federal Chancellor are meeting again to discuss the issue of refugees," said Jäger. Too little had happened since then. "Many of the resolutions from May have not yet been fully implemented and completed," criticized the head of the local authority association. From the municipalities' point of view, action must now be taken urgently, said Jäger. "Politicians must make effective decisions and implement them in the short term." Otherwise there is a risk of society being overburdened and a loss of acceptance.
Last week, Jäger also complained at an event organized by the Gemeindetag (Association of Municipalities) that the reception capacities in the municipalities had long been full and integration resources were overloaded. In the past 20 months, the cities, municipalities and districts of Baden-Württemberg have taken in more than 220,000 refugees.
The municipalities continue to express concern over the financial burden of accommodating and caring for refugees, urging for immediate solutions to prevent further delays in implementation. With the upcoming meeting between Minister Presidents and the Federal Chancellor, there's an expectation for increased funding and better control from the federal government to alleviate the strain on local authorities.
Source: www.dpa.com
