“Germany must relocate 41,000 refugees annually”
In the early autumn of 2020, 1,500 refugees from the Moria slum camp in Greece were relocated to Germany
Quayle: Picture Alliance / Pacific Press
Migration expert Gerald Naus is calling on the German government to bring more refugees in need of protection directly into Germany. This is not only better than “uncontrolled refugee movements” – it is also beneficial for integration.
DHe is a migration expert and leader European Sustainability Initiativehandjob Gerald Knauss, has called on the federal government to take more vulnerable refugees directly from distressed areas. “Germany should do it like Canada or Sweden and agree to relocate at least 0.05 percent of its population annually as part of resettlement, that is, about 41,000 people,” Knauss told WELT.
During resettlement, the United Nations Refugee Agency identifies particularly vulnerable refugees in initial reception countries such as Jordan, Kenya or Turkey and recommends them to settle in other countries. So far, Germany has taken in this way up to 5500 people per year.
“The resettlement ensures that the people who really need help come to Europe,” Naus said. This is “fair compared to unregulated refugee movements” because women and children also have a chance of being accepted. As a rule, they do not follow dangerous escape routes, but mainly “courageous men”.
The integration of this group is also easy as their special security requirements are already determined upon entry. After all, resettlement sends an important signal to countries of first reception: show them that they are being supported not only in coping with refugee status with money, but in a very practical way by acknowledging some particularly vulnerable people. Too.
Naus, considered a forerunner of the EU-Turkey deal, formulated his demand against the backdrop of the Afghanistan crisis. In late August, the European Union Commission asked member states to make proposals to take in resettlement refugees, although Germany has yet to receive any public approval. Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) said last week that rehabilitation programs specifically for “abused people” have always been agreed upon. “We’re ready for that too.” However, he doesn’t think it’s very wise to talk about numbers anymore. On the other hand, FDP politicians spoke in favor of expanding the resettlement.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Unification Minister Joachim Stamp called on the federal government to organize the entry of Afghan refugees outside Europe as well. It needs partners like USA, Canada or Australia. “The 1979 Geneva Convention, which designed the rescue of thousands of Vietnamese boat refugees, can serve as a model,” Stamp said.
In Canada, for example, the government regularly determines how many economic migrants, family members, and refugees are granted permanent residency. Looks like plans for the coming years 36,000 resettled refugees annually The first, which corresponds to 0.1 percent of the population. More than half are “sponsored” by private individuals and organizations. You can propose refugees and must first support and support them financially.
“The Canadian example shows that rehabilitation is successful when the state and society work together,” Naus said. “Even in Germany, I see a great desire in civil society to take people in need of protection in an orderly manner.” However, so far there has been a dearth of attractive programs.
