On September 3, representatives from Germany’s traffic light coalition, the Union, and various federal states gathered at the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin to tackle the ongoing debate over migration policy.
The summit took place amid growing demands for stricter measures and policies that could limit migration to Germany.
The meeting followed the recent unveiling of a "security package," which was introduced after the Islamist-motivated knife attack in Solingen. The package aims to intensify deportations and combat Islamist terrorism more effectively.
According to a Tagesschau report, while there was a desire for cooperation among the attendees, their perspectives on migration varied greatly.
The Union, led by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, is pushing for limitations on migration. Merz emphasized that it’s not just about deportations but also about reducing overall immigration pressure. He also advocated for turning away refugees at the German borders.
On the other hand, the traffic light coalition, led by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), showed skepticism towards harsher migration restrictions. Faeser cautioned against making unilateral decisions that would tighten migration policy and potentially harm Germany’s international standing.
The debate also touched on the strain faced by local authorities and the challenges of integrating newcomers.
Despite the urgency of these issues, the summit did not yield an immediate solution.
