Dreyer Wants More Than Money at Refugee Summit
In the lead-up to this Monday's refugee summit, Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President, Malu Dreyer (SPD), has advocated for discussions to extend beyond financial matters. "Money's important, but we need solutions too," she told DPA in Mainz. "We're at the brink with accommodations, and the public's mood is decidedly uneasy," she emphasized.
Municipal advocacy groups are eager for collaboration with the federal government on the funding issue, Dreyer acknowledged. However, she emphasized, "This won't be a walk in the park for the Minister Presidents, but we share a common goal."
Dreyer shared that they sought scientific guidance from a migration researcher at the University of Hildesheim for their discussions. "We aim to create solutions based on facts and evidence," she reported, citing Rhineland-Palatinate's growth in refugee reception capacity and reduced strain on municipalities as examples.
Since February 2022, Rhineland-Palatinate has increased its refugee capacity from 3,300 to nearly 8,000 places, with fewer refugees distributed to municipalities than in a prolonged period. This gave municipalities more time to build up facilities and receive financial support, with approximately 1.5 million euros in 2022 and 1.6 million euros this year.
Dreyer revealed a permanent police presence at all facilities and a "migration task force" in unity with local police inspectorates for security. "We have a centralized immigration authority for skilled worker immigration," she reported, and "additional state-funded language courses" for prompt refugee language acquisition.
Yet, the federal government has moved swiftly on far-reaching refugee regulations in response to demands from the states, such as reinstating border controls and expediting deportation and labor market integration processes.
In Frankfurt in October, minister presidents from all political parties secured a comprehensive agreement on refugee movement regulations and financing. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had campaigned for a cross-party pact to confront the challenge in September. Dreyer criticized those who neglect the importance of a collective approach, stating, "Anyone who fails to see this isn't interested in a solution, but in a political dispute. The situation is too dire, and the public mood is too charged."
While Dreyer has yet to detail her proposals for the refugee summit, addressing the accommodation problem and alleviating public unease likely form part of her comprehensive strategy. Potential solutions may include enhanced security measures, community integration programs, public education campaigns, dialogues with local communities, and policy reforms.
