German citizens demand more meaningful support for refugees from the government
According to data from sociologists at Emnid, the number of people in Germany who are convinced of the need for more significant efforts by Berlin to receive and accommodate refugees is growing. Thus, 25% of respondents are sure that the Federal Republic should accept more refugees. For comparison: in January this year, that figure was 22%. At the same time, 68% of respondents believe that Germany should allocate money to organize special immigration offices in North Africa, where residents of third countries could apply for asylum.
A survey conducted last week by the ARD television channel revealed that every second German (50%) is in favor of accepting more refugees into Germany, while 44% are against. Moreover, an absolute majority of Germans (81%) believe that the German government should allocate more funds to improve the situation in the countries from which refugees come.
62% of respondents support increasing allocations for rescuing refugees at sea, while 34% oppose. The results of the ARD survey also indicate that 70% of respondents welcome the opening of legal immigration paths to Europe. At the same time, almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) reject a naval blockade of refugee ships following Australia's example.
Federal politicians are now appealing to Brussels with new proposals for distributing refugees among EU countries. Thus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on April 24 that Europe should develop 'a new system for asylum seekers, because the existing rules no longer work.' According to the head of the German government, it is necessary to consider the issue of distributing those who have been granted asylum throughout the European Union, taking into account the population of the host countries and their level of economic development.
'We ourselves are ready for this because we accept refugees in any case,' said the federal chancellor. At the same time, she recalled that in 2013, more than 170 thousand illegal immigrants arrived in Italy, and only 67 thousand people filed asylum applications in that country. The majority of illegals move on to the north of the European continent, where they then apply for political asylum. 'The asylum procedure and registration of refugees must take place in the EU according to uniform standards,' Merkel is convinced.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also believes that the European Union should 'move to a fairer distribution of refugees.' According to the politician, many countries are currently shirking their responsibility. As Steinmeier noted, among the states that are currently actively participating in solving the refugee problem, besides Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy and Hungary stand out.
Meanwhile, as an urgent measure of assistance within the EU's Triton border protection maritime operation, Germany has already sent one frigate and one auxiliary ship to the Mediterranean Sea. As German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen stated, the frigate with a radar with a range of up to forty kilometers can be used to search for people in distress at sea. The second ship, equipped with a state-of-the-art infirmary, can accommodate up to 250 people on board and provide them with necessary medical care. Both warships will reach Italian shores as early as the first days of May.