Berlin refugee arrangements given approval by Dobrindt
In a significant turn of events, the extension of Berlin's state admission program for Syrians, Afghans, and Iraqis has been ruled out following the intervention of Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. The federal interior ministry has decided that it "will not grant consent for new or for the extension of existing state reception programs," citing financial risks and insufficient cost protection for the state of Berlin [1].
The state admission programs, introduced by the red-green-red coalition, allow participants to bring relatives to Berlin if they are registered and cover the costs. However, the financial obligation stops after five years, and the state becomes responsible for costs [1]. This concern, coupled with the lack of federal approval, has led to the ruling out of program extension.
The dispute over the state admission programs has been ongoing in the black-red coalition for over a year, with the SPD advocating for continuation while the CDU has been strictly against it. In his letter to Berlin’s Finance Senator Stefan Evers, Dobrindt made clear that no further extensions would be approved, effectively ending the program's expansion [1].
Evers, in response, wrote that an extension of state admission orders can only be done in agreement with the Federal Ministry of the Interior. He also expressed concerns about the costs incurred by the state admission programs and stated that there is still insufficient data basis to reliably assess the budgetary burden of the programs [1].
This decision comes as Berlin residents have been covering the initial health and long-term care insurance costs for participants. However, the federal ministry warned that this is not sufficient protection against additional costs for the state of Berlin [1]. It is important to note that there was another program for people from Lebanon since 2001, but it was suspended last year due to "security concerns."
The Left and the Greens have also regularly demanded an extension of the state admission programs, adding to the political disagreement surrounding the issue. The decision by Dobrindt effectively ends the state admission programs for Syrians, Afghans, and Iraqis, highlighting the ongoing challenges in managing migration and refugee policies in Germany.
[1] Source: Berliner Morgenpost, 2022.
The ongoing debate within the black-red coalition regarding the state admission programs has achieved a decisive conclusion, as the federal minister has officially rejected any further extensions or new implementations of these programs, citing financial risks and insufficient cost protection for Berlin [1]. This decision, opposed by both the SPD and the Greens, is a significant shift in politics and policy-and-legislation, potentially impacting the future of migration and refugee policies in Germany [1].
General news coverage indicates that this move by the federal interior ministry could limit the ability of participants to bring relatives to Berlin, further fueling controversy around the management of policy-and-legislation related to immigration and refugee status in Germany [1].
