“It’s about people”
Schulze: There is a lack of empathy in the migration debate
November 12, 2023, 1:48 p.m
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In the last few months there has only been one topic in Germany: migration. And this is often discussed in a very one-sided way, says Federal Development Minister Schulze. She lacks empathy in the discussion. She also has a different opinion on asylum procedures than many federal politicians.
Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze criticizes the way migration is discussed in Germany. “It sometimes bothers me in the German debate that there is a lack of empathy. It’s not about masses and flows, it’s about people who fear for their lives and are fleeing war,” Schulze told “Spiegel”. “We must show solidarity with those whose lives are in danger.”
The SPD politician rejects cutting development funds for countries that do not take refugees back to Germany. “Withdrawing support from the poorest in the country does not lead to less migration, but rather to more desperation, instability and crises,” said Schulze. One cannot “educate the countries according to our wishes through this kind of punitive measures”. This is a question of respect for sovereign states.
Schulze agrees with Chancellor Olaf Scholz that people who have no right to stay should leave. “At the same time, we must remain open to people who come to us legally and continue to show solidarity with refugees,” warned the minister.
Schulze is critical of the question of whether asylum procedures should be outsourced to countries outside the EU. “I can only recommend that this debate not be held without the countries concerned.” In addition to “all the other questions of international law and ethics,” the crucial one is which country would actually be willing to do this.