The German patchwork is of great importance in the reception of refugees in Europe

Then-Chancellor Angela Merkel reached out and coined the classic phrase “wir schaffen das.”

Olaf Scholz is now making a complete about-face as he instead states that “there are too many people coming” and is imposing border controls.

German patchwork could have serious consequences for refugee reception in Europe.

After the major refugee crisis of 2015-2016, when more than one and a half million people arrived in Europe in a short period of time, a number of countries adopted stricter migration policies. Sweden is one of them.

However, Germany continued to receive arrivals. A bit of the spirit established by Angela Merkel when she reassured her citizens during the refugee crisis with the phrase “we can handle it.”

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But now Germany has also abandoned this idea. A few days ago, Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Schulz held a crisis meeting with the heads of government of Germany’s 16 states. The meeting lasted until the early hours of the morning.

When the eyes are hollow When Schulz left the meeting, he expressed his pleasure at announcing the agreement on a series of measures aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers in Germany. One of them is to reduce the allowance that asylum seekers receive. They should not receive more than part of the grants in cash that they can send to relatives in their home countries.

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Asylum claims must also be decided more quickly and those who are rejected must be deported more quickly.

Schulz and his coalition government are under intense pressure not only from countries that complain that their asylum facilities are full and that costs are rising dramatically. It is also under pressure from the far-right Alternative for Germany party, and the successes of the Alternative for Germany party in several recent elections in the states. The party traditionally had many supporters in eastern Germany, but was now able to capitalize on significant successes in Bavaria, among other places.

Even and By September, 250,000 asylum seekers had arrived in Germany this year. An increase of 73 percent compared to the same period last year. The country also received one million refugees from Ukraine who do not need to apply for asylum.

A few weeks ago, Germany imposed permanent border controls with the Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland in an attempt to stop refugee smuggling. These are now extendable. Penal rates for refugee smugglers have also been increased.

This is happening at a time when refugee flows across the Mediterranean have increased sharply.

As Schultz promised After the settlement, which he described as “historic,” the possibility of entrusting the asylum process to countries outside Europe will be considered. The ideas have already been tested by Great Britain and Denmark.

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At the beginning of the week, Italy reached an agreement with Albania to send asylum seekers who crossed the Mediterranean Sea there. Initially, they numbered about 3,000 immigrants. But over time, there may be as many as 36,000 people a year having their applications examined in Albania, a country currently outside the EU.

In return, Meloni promised to work for Albania to become a member of the union.

Various refugee organizations have condemned this settlement as another departure from the right to asylum. But there is no doubt that this is the direction in which refugee policy in Europe is headed.

It’s quiet Many people try to reach Europe but there is no desire to be received.

All the countries that received the largest numbers of asylum seekers during the refugee crisis (Germany, Sweden, Austria, and the Netherlands) have significantly tightened immigration policies or are about to do so.

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This comes at the same time that the European Union Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, is trying to move forward with her proposal for a common migration policy for the European Union, the main element of which is the voluntary redistribution of refugees from countries located on the external borders of Europe, such as Italy and Greece, to other countries. Member States.

The question is just Who will receive them? There are no volunteers in sight to raise their hands.

Ahead of the European Union elections next spring, immigration is beginning to become a matter of fate for voters. Right-wing extremists and right-wing populists expect to be able to ride this wave. Even within the left, opposition to refugees is growing.

In Germany it has Well-known left-wing politician Sarah Wagenknecht left Die Linke, a remnant of East Germany’s Communist Party, to form her own Left Party where curbing immigration is a major issue.

Open arms Increasingly turning into a cold hand.