Germany moves to seal external borders against refugees

[TexasTowelie]

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière declared this week that refugees arriving on the German border will be deported back to the first European Union country they entered, in a reversal of policies that have been in place since August.

Germany’s move to strengthen its border regime will have catastrophic humanitarian consequences, intensify tensions in Europe and increase the danger of war. It reflects the fact that a small, right-wing cabal around de Maizière and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is increasingly determining the German government’s refugee policies.

De Maizière said Tuesday that Syrian refugees arriving on the German border were being treated according to the Dublin agreement, and that this had been the case since October 21. The Dublin III protocol provides that refugees must make an asylum application in the country they enter first in the EU. If they make an application in another country, they can be deported to the original country of entry. The only exception currently is Greece, according to the ministry.

In addition, refugees from Syria are not being provided protection in accordance with the Geneva Conventions on refugees. The vast majority of Syrian refugees, who traveled through Turkey or other allegedly “safe countries of origin” during their journey, will only receive subsidiary protection. They will receive the right to reside for just one year rather than three years, and they cannot bring their family members to Germany.

Read more: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/11/13/refu-n13.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. So Europe is going back to being a collection of walled city-states.

Not a very effective response to a shared foreign policy which ends up creating even more refugees.

[bemildred]

2. Gee, who could have predicted this? I wonder if Schauble is worried yet, or still angry? nt

[bemildred]

3. Erdogan: What would happen if 2.2 mln Syrian refugees walk to Europe

In an interview with CNN International on Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan implicitly threatened to increase the migrant flow to the EU while complaining about inadequate cooperation from the bloc as it plans to hold a summit with Turkey to discuss ways to stem the migrant flow.

"What would happen if the 2.2 million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey all march to Europe?" Erdoğan said, criticizing the EU for closing its borders while his country is struggling to cope with the presence of a large number of migrants.

The EU is continuing to struggle with the arrival of migrants and recently held a summit with the leaders of a number of African countries to find a lasting solution to the problem of migrants crossing to Europe from North Africa in often deadly journeys over the Mediterranean. Thousands of people have died in fatal incidents, mostly in boats that sink due to overcrowding, prompting the EU to develop counter measures to deal with human smugglers who exploit the internal turmoil and political instability in Libya for a thriving business of bringing migrants to Europe, often through Italy.

European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to invite Erdoğan to a summit very soon as they seek his help to stem a chaotic flow of migrants that threatens Europe's unity and open borders. European Council President Donald Tusk, who chaired the emergency meeting of EU leaders in Malta, warned that the EU must win a "race against time" to slow arrivals via Greece if it is to save the Schengen zone of passport-free travel inside the bloc from being sidelined by new national barriers and controls.

http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_erdogan-what-would-happen-if-22-mln-syrian-refugees-walk-to-europe_404224.html