Humanisation of Refugee Policy must be put on Agenda

The remarks by Cecilia Malmström appear like a request to the Great Coalition. Since the federal government came into office, its leading representatives poison the public debate with distorted pictures about alleged mass immigration into the German benefits system. At the same time laws are driven forth to make Germany a fortress without access for more and more refugees.

Appeals are too little, though. Germany represents the collective humanitarian failure of Europe. The European states watch the refugees‘ misery spread not only from Syria to its neighbour states from the sidelines. The European Union approves of people drowning in the Mediterranean day after day due to its border regime. We need no less than a complete change of Germany’s and Europe’s refugee policy let by a humanisation of the handling with refugees.

We need secure escape routes to save lifes. This includes the possibility to make out humanitarian visa for refugees already in their home country. Germany should finally bring itself to support this proposal. The admission contingents for refugees at least have to be clearly expanded. Legal constructions of prosecution-free home countries and secure third states have to be dropped. We further need a humanisation of the living conditions of refugees in Germany. This includes, at first, a countrywide abolition of the residential obligation, the right to work, and the social equality of refugees.