Michael Roth MP, Berlin

Migration is putting us to the test – how can we respond with solidarity and human dignity?

(BSC/Minister of State Michael Roth MP*) In recent months, thousands of refugees have sought refuge from war, terror and persecution in Europe. According to current estimates, this year at least 800,000 people will come to Germany. In comparison: Germany’s fifth largest city, Frankfurt am Main, has slightly over 700,000 inhabitants. How to deal with the refugee crisis is posing a huge challenge to Germany, some are even talking of the challenge of a generation. The Federation, Länder and municipalities as well as millions of full-time and voluntary helpers are currently doing everything possible to provide emergency assistance to people in need.

Above all, however, the current flows of refugees are posing a tough test for unity, capability to act and solidarity within the European Union. The German Government’s stance on this matter is clear: Europe cannot put this off any longer, the EU must act now. We must therefore pursue a European asylum, refugee and migration policy that is founded on the principle of solidarity and our shared values of humanity.

For it is clear that how we want to deal with migration is not an Italian, Greek or Hungarian problem. The current crisis is a problem for all of Europe, one which we must find joint responses to. In concrete terms, the EU is facing four tasks: Firstly, thousands of refugees have set out for Europe in search of a better life – and during their journey met a tragic death in the Mediterranean Sea. Saving human lives must be the highest priority for all of us. Seeing people drown off our coasts – before our eyes – is unacceptable and flies in the face of our fundamental values. Two German naval ships have been active since May 2015 and in recent weeks have saved over 7,200 people in distress at sea.

Secondly, the unscrupulous people smuggling gangs cannot be allowed to continue implementing their cynical business model with impunity. With the anti -smuggling mission EUNAVFOR Med, the EU is making it clear that it is not turning a blind eye to illegal activity in the Mediterranean. The anti-piracy mission Atalanta has shown that a maritime operation can serve as an effective deterrence to criminal activity.

Thirdly, the current influx of refugees is the result of dramatic developments in our immediate neighbourhood. Yet we cannot resolve the crises in the refugees’ home countries – such as civil wars, failing states, terrorism or poverty – with patrol boats in the Mediterranean or fences at the EU’s external borders. We have to combat the causes of flight and migration and not the refugees! To do so we need concrete responses on how we can improve living conditions in the countries of origin in a sustainable manner. All areas of policy have to be included in this – from foreign and security policy to trade to humanitarian assistance and development policy. In this way, we want to create the conditions for people to be able to live in security in their countries of origin and to enable refugees and displaced persons to return home.

Fourthly, at present only five out of 28 member states, including Germany, take in around 80 per cent of the asylum-seekers and refugees. That is not our idea of European solidarity in action. The Dublin System is no longer sustainable. Germany is prepared to forge ahead and to shoulder responsibility, but in the long run we will not be able to do so alone. What we need now is a joint effort from all member states. Germany therefore supports the EU Commission’s proposal for binding standards and quotas within the EU to be agreed, commensurate with the size, economic strength and ability to take people in of the individual EU countries. Every member state has a responsibility here.

We know that some of our partner countries are currently sceptical about this new path. But we are prepared to be perseverant in convincing others that it is the right approach. In many talks, we are encouraging our partners and pointing out the many examples of successful integration in Germany. We must never forget that the EU is committed to its values, but is also multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious. Thus we should not see immigration as a burden but much more as an opportunity and enrichment for our societies.

*Michael Roth MP, Minister of State for Europe, Federal Foreign Office, Federal Republic of Germany, and Member of the Advisory Board BSC 2015 “Germany is prepared to forge ahead and to shoulder responsibility, but in the long run we will not be able to do so alone.”