Straight Talkin' with Saskia Esken: SPD Stands Firm on Asylum Rights, Blasts Union's Migration Policies
SPD Commits to Maintaining the Basic Right of Asylum
Sound the horns, folks! It's time to dig into the latest from Germany's political landscape, starring the SPD leader, Saskia Esken. This tough-talkin', no-nonsense union boss is drawing a line in the sand when it comes to asylum policy, as she navigates the coalition talks with the Union.
In the heated ZDF program "Berlin direct," Esken made it clear that the SPD plans to keep the right to asylum, enshrined in Germany's constitution, alive and well. However, she (and the SPD) are all too aware that the current European asylum system needs a serious overhaul.
Remember during the Bundestag election when Friedrich Merz, the CDU big-wig, and the Union called for a hardline stance on migration policy? They pumped up the rhetoric, promising to reject all attempts at illegal entry on day one. But when it came time for the coalition discussion, the SPD and CDU agreed on more extensive rejections at national borders in coordination with neighboring countries. Christoph Ploß, a CDU member of parliament, brimming with confidence, told the Rheinische Post that the coalition agreement would bear a clear CDU signature.
So, when asked if asylum procedures could be outsourced to third countries, Esken shrugged her shoulders and declared, "Nah, it ain't worked anywhere." She pointed to Italy and Britain as examples that have tried this idea, but to no avail. Instead, Esken suggested putting our energy into advancing the new European asylum system and tightening border controls until that system kicks in.
The president of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Hans Eckhard Sommer, proposed a different solution: eliminate the right to asylum and implement a quota system based on labor market integration capability. But Nancy Faeser, the SPD's federal interior minister, swiftly shot that idea down, announcing that the right to asylum is a sacred cow for the SPD. However, the Union seemed open to discussion, with Thorsten Frei, the parliamentary business manager of the Union faction in the Bundestag, welcoming Sommer's remarks as a helpful contribution to the debate.
Now, let's unpack some context: The European Union has been experimenting with externalization policies, where asylum seekers are processed in countries outside the EU. This can mean cooperation agreements with third countries for returns, detention, or handling asylum claims. But these strategies are not without controversy. Critics argue that third countries may engage in human rights abuses or offer inadequate living conditions for asylum seekers.
So, while Italy and Britain might be testing the waters with externalization strategies, the specifics and effectiveness of these efforts are still up for debate. But one thing's for sure: the political and ethical implications of outsourcing asylum procedures are far from settled.
Sources: ntv.de, ino/dpa
- Saskia Esken
- CDU
- CSU
- Asylum law
- Migration
- Coalition negotiations
[1] European Commission (2016). A European approach to migration: towards a common European policies. Accessed 2023-01-31 from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/docs/european-approach-migration_en.pdf
[2] Amnesty International (2019). EU-Turkey: A deal of death and shame. Accessed 2023-01-31 from https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR042672019ENGLISH.PDF
[3] International Organization for Migration (2019). Addressing New York Declaration commitments – European Union action towards strengthening cooperation with third countries in managing forced displacement. Accessed 2023-01-31 from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EU-Addressing-New-York-Declaration-commitments_English.pdf
[4] UNHCR (2019). Global Compact on Refugees: European and North American States Commit to Sharing Responsibility and Solidarity with Host Countries. Accessed 2023-01-31 from https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2019/12/5debe69c4/global-compact-refugees-european-and-north-american-states-commit-sharing.html
- Saskia Esken, the SPD leader, has opposed the idea of outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries, citing Italy and Britain as examples where such strategies haven't worked effectively.
- The Union, represented by CDU member Christoph Ploß, has suggested a more hardline stance on migration policy, while the SPD, led by Esken, favors tightening border controls and advancing the new European asylum system.
- The European Union has been exploring externalization policies, where asylum seekers are processed in countries outside the EU, but criticisms regarding human rights abuses and inadequate living conditions in these third countries persist.
