Refugee Council: Politicians bury their welcoming culture
Lower Saxony's Refugee Council has sharply criticized the results of the federal and state consultations on migration. "German politicians have finally buried the 'welcome culture' they proclaimed in 2015," the association announced on Tuesday. In the hope of winning votes away from the AfD, the parties are outdoing themselves in a "competition of deterrence". The planned restriction of benefits for asylum seekers is counterproductive in terms of integration policy. "It is also inhumane and unreasonable to deliberately keep refugees in poverty for years and only pay them benefits at least at the level of social welfare after 36 months instead of the previous 18 months," it said.
Following lengthy consultations, the federal and state governments agreed on new measures in refugee policy last night. In addition to a change in the distribution of costs between the federal and state governments, restrictions on benefits for asylum seekers, the introduction of a payment card and the examination of asylum procedures in third countries outside Europe were also agreed. In addition, a commission is to be set up to manage migration and improve integration, which will also include churches, trade unions, academics and refugee organizations.
The Refugee Council in Lower Saxony condemns the outcome of the migration consultations, stating that German politicians have effectively ended their pledged "welcome culture" from 2015. Despite the agreement on new refugee policies last night, restricting benefits for asylum seekers and keeping them in poverty for extended periods is seen as inhumane and counterproductive for integration by the council.
Source: www.dpa.com
