"We are forced to accept the minister's decision," said SPD domestic policy expert Dieter Wiefelspütz, "although we do not consider the matter closed." The government working group led by Wiefelspütz had spent several months trying to get the Bundestag to approve amendments to the law that would facilitate the entry into Germany of highly qualified personnel from non-EU countries, so necessary for the country's economy. The experts' main demand was to lower the income threshold for applicants for a long-term work visa from €85,000 to €63,000 per year. "For employees of small and medium-sized enterprises, especially young ones, this is a completely unrealistic figure," the Social Democrat argued, citing data from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry: only 5% of Germany's native population can boast such salaries! In addition, Wiefelspütz and his CDU colleague Hans-Peter Uhl demanded the abolition of the rule that a private entrepreneur from outside Europe can obtain a residence permit only if he invests one million euros in the German economy and creates at least 10 new jobs, calling this provision "more prohibitive than attractive." They also advocated for expanding the rights of foreigners who are graduates of German universities. Currently, graduates are allowed to reside in Germany for one year after completing their studies, but in the employment system, the principle of "selection by nationality" applies: priority is given to a foreigner from a "third" country only if no German or EU citizen applies for the position. As a result, according to Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director Martin Wansleben, "a future Nobel laureate, disillusioned with the attempt to find work, will leave Germany for a place where his qualifications are more valued, and the sought-after position will be filled by a C-grade student."
The good intentions of politicians, as well as the aspirations of economists who tirelessly speak of Germany's catastrophic position in modern competition, have been shattered by Franz Müntefering's firm "no." One of the leaders of German social democracy vetoed the progressive amendments to the immigration law, which were to take effect in January, and caused bewilderment on the part of the CDU/CSU. "The minister should understand that his fears of a wave of cheap labor from abroad are somewhat exaggerated," believes Wolfgang Bosbach, head of the conservative faction in the Bundestag. As a result of the phantasmagoric mixture of the 'red-black' palette, the current Social Democrats are proving to be far more conservative in matters of migration policy than their recent sworn opponents. Is that surprising? Not really anymore.
Müntefering, apparently completely confused in his attempts to reconcile the interests of the German labor market entrusted to him with the ideas of 'liberty, equality, and fraternity,' is trying to limit the influx of foreigners into Germany, accusing large firms of a tendency toward 'dumping methods of preserving production.' This applies not only to the 'highly qualified' (of whom only 900 have entered Germany during the grand coalition, whereas in previous years the computer and telecommunications sectors were enriched by 2,300-2,500 bright minds annually), but also to other categories of foreigners. In particular, the Vice Chancellor advocates granting work permits not to all refugees living in Germany with an uncertain status for more than 6 years, as demanded by 'black' Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, but only to 'well-integrated' ones, without specifying the criteria for determining this 'integration.' Thus, the implementation of the fresh idea of 'circular migration,' proposed the other day by Schäuble and his French colleague Nicolas Sarkozy at a meeting of European interior ministers in Stratford, looks very problematic for Germany. According to this model, the EU could grant the right to a limited (3-5 year term) work visa to citizens of the poorest countries, but with the condition of their mandatory return home and 'use of the experience gained in the European Union in their homeland.'
The proposals of the interior ministers are not a guide to action for the governments of EU member states. And the right to decide on the implementation of any of their ideas, when it comes to the labor market, will be transferred to the relevant national ministries—that is, again to Franz Müntefering. There is no need to guess what his verdict will be. It is far more likely that 'friend Wolfgang' will implement his other agreements with 'friend Nicolas' reached during negotiations on a common European migration policy: closer cooperation between the intelligence services of EU countries, strengthening joint control over the Internet, and tightening visa entry rules from outside the European Union.