In Germany, municipalities are struggling to accommodate asylum seekers. Local politicians express frustration at the lack of help from the central government and argue that it is not just a question of funding, but also space and staff, reports Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
The situation has been exacerbated by the recent increase in the number of immigrants trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Germany is often their final destination.
The pressure is especially felt in the central reception centers of the municipalities. The central government lacks a strategy and long-term solutions.
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Especially the reception of asylum seekers from safe countries of origin is a problem, because they often stay in the asylum chain for years and do not integrate. Municipalities are therefore demanding that only those who have a realistic chance of obtaining residency status be admitted.
Addressing the EU‘s asylum policy, however, is difficult because it requires a comprehensive reform of EU asylum policy.
