Refugee summit: Markus Söder and Carsten Linnemann consider the results to be inadequate

THE MIRROR Refugee summit: Markus Söder and Carsten Linnemann consider the results to be inadequate Article by Charlotte Lüder • 3 hours. The CDU and CSU see the agreement between the federal and state governments on migration policy as a first step - but it is far from enough. The German Association of Cities again called for municipalities to be involved in negotiations. Refugee summit: Markus Söder and Carsten Linnemann consider the results to be inadequate CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann judged the federal-state agreement on migration policy to be inadequate. “It’s a small step,” said Linnemann in the ARD “Morgenmagazin.” However, the paper is “far from enough” to curb illegal migration in Germany. "We can't wait for years until Europe's external border is really protected; we also have to introduce control and transit centers at our borders," demanded Linnemann. Asylum seekers should only be distributed among the municipalities if there is a right to remain. In addition, family reunification should be restricted and asylum procedures should be carried out in third countries. "The paper tonight says we want to check everything," said the CDU politician. "It's all too soft." DER SPIEGEL summarizes the most important news of the day for you: What was really important today - and what it means. Your daily newsletter update at 6 p.m. Subscribe now for free. The heads of government of the federal states and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) negotiated until the morning. Their agreement provides for a system change in the financing of refugee costs, and benefits for asylum seekers are also to be reduced. If procedures drag on, only basic benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act should be paid for 36 months instead of 18. The federal government also wants to check whether asylum procedures are possible outside Europe. And asylum procedures should be processed more quickly. This should be completed in three months, especially for people from countries with a recognition rate of less than five percent. Green Party leader Omid Nouripour, however, cannot understand why Linnemann is making new demands immediately after the resolutions. Everyone involved in the Prime Minister's conversation with the Chancellor had moved, said Nouripour in the "Morgenmagazin". The Union should participate in the implementation of the decisions instead of making new demands. “Now bring calm and implement it, that’s the order now,” said Nouripour. It shouldn't be pretended that someone can wave a magic wand and everything will be different. »Positive: Something is moving! Negative: That's not enough." Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder assessed the results of the federal-state negotiations on migration as progress, but not yet sufficient. »Positive: Something is moving! Negative: That’s not enough,” wrote the CSU boss that morning on the platform X, formerly Twitter. “We have to continue to apply pressure to limit immigration to Germany,” emphasized Söder. The vice president of the German Association of Cities, Burkhard Jung, also criticized the tough negotiations between the federal and state governments on Deutschlandfunk. “This wrangling is terrible between the federal and state governments,” he said and at the same time renewed the municipalities’ claim to be involved in such negotiations. »We belong at the table. I never tire of demanding this.” The federal government's planned per capita flat rate for first-time asylum applicants should be viewed positively, said Jung. However, the agreed 7,500 euros were “significantly too little”. The federal states initially demanded 10,500 euros per refugee per year, the federal government only wanted to give 5,000. The prime ministers of the federal states had also agreed with the Federal Chancellor that asylum seekers should receive at least part of their benefits as credit on a payment card in the future. Jung, who is also Leipzig's mayor, is hoping for an unbureaucratic solution here. Lindner: Billions in savings possible The FDP was satisfied with the federal-state agreement to finance migration costs. The planned restriction on benefits for asylum seekers could lead to savings of one billion euros, wrote Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner on “This measure will also reduce the attractiveness of the German welfare state,” said the FDP leader. Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann spoke of good steps towards a “new realpolitik in the area of migration”.