European Union

Refugees are often used as scapegoats, but the success stories of Germany’s refugees paint a very different picture.

Angela Merkel has come under fire from many directions for her so-called ’open door‘ refugee policy. But apart from the usual suspects – domestic and foreign right-wing politicians, groups and parties – criticism has come from moderates as well.

Merkel is by no means an infallible stateswoman. She doesn’t get it right all the time. But her decision to allow more than one million refugees into Germany when others refused to take them is up there with greatest humanitarian acts in history. So how is it possible that it has made her life so difficult? And will it cost her a fourth term as German chancellor?

Those who oppose her may argue that she should not have made that decision so unilaterally; that more than a million is too many; that the right thing to do is not always the right thing to do. Perhaps. But has the result been so catastrophic for Germany?

The pressures – economic and cultural – have been well documented. The success stories have been publicised, but not to the same degree. But these success stories are vital in forming public attitudes towards refugees.

Upon hearing of a country taking so many refugees, many people ask how they will be cared for, housed, fed, clothed and educated. And how much this will cost. But this question is often based on the assumption that these million refugees will be forever dependent on German taxpayers.

“Merkel’s decision to allow more than one million refugees into Germany is up there with greatest humanitarian acts in history”

Providing the refugees’ basic needs has indeed been a burden on the German taxpayer. But it is an investment in Germany’s future labour force. There are many highly-educated people among the refugees, bringing with them skills and experience that make them valuable human capital that can be readily absorbed by the German labour market.

To help bring this about, Germany has introduced legal measures requiring migrants to integrate into German society. These include the first-ever integration law, designed to make it easier for asylum-seekers to gain access to the German labour market. The German government has also promised to create 100,000 new working opportunities for asylum seekers.

According to a study by the Federal Employment Agency’s Institute for Employment Research, 50,000 refugees found work between September 2015 and September 2016. By September 2016, 30,000 were already earning enough to make them subject to social security contributions.

While these figures are still low, and statistics never tell the full story, they do show progress. The gloomy picture some like to paint is not accurate. With an ageing population and a marked labour shortage, Germany must do something if it wishes to remain Europe’s largest economy. This is not only a question of economics, but of geopolitics.

But it is often not big-picture statistics that shape public perceptions; rather the actions of individuals. There are many positive stories to tell.

Muhannad M., a Syrian refugee in the town of Minden, returned €150,000 that he found in a second-hand cupboard he had been given.

Yusra Mardini, a teenager who left Syria when her house was destroyed in the country’s civil war, swam for three hours in the Aegean Sea pushing a sinking dinghy to safety, saving the lives of nineteen people. Settling in Berlin, she swam for the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Rio Games, winning the first heat of the women’s 100m butterfly. She is currently studying, working to change people’s perception of refugees and hopes to compete in Tokyo in 2020. Perhaps, one day, she will win a gold medal for Germany.

“It is often not big-picture statistics that shape public perceptions but the actions of individuals”

Taking in these refugees is a success in another sense too. Their gratitude to a country that helped them in their time of need will surely have a positive impact on how their friends and relatives in their home country view Germany and, by extension, the West. This comes at a time when positive bonds between the West and the Muslim world are more important than ever.

Of course the picture is not all rosy. Recent events have shown that Merkel’s policy also brings with it security risks and cultural challenges. Dismissing any anti-refugee argument as racism is not only over-simplistic but also a form of intolerance, as many people have legitimate concerns. Lessons of the past must be learned, integration given priority, and security services given the tools and resources they need.

Integrating Germany’s refugees will be challenging, it will cost money, and it will take a long time. In the shorter term, Merkel’s opponents will benefit from her refugee policy. But if the policy is properly managed, it is Germany that will benefit in the longer term.

And it is a policy that could cement Merkel’s legacy as one of Germany’s great leaders: one who looked ahead, beyond her own term of office – making her a rarity in the politics of today.

IMAGE CREDIT: Number 10

The post Behind the headlines, Merkel’s refugee policy is working for Germany appeared first on Europe’s World.

To receive the Brussels Briefing in your inbox every morning, register for a free FT account here and then sign up here.

 

Read more

Plenary sessions : The title of a statement by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on prospects for resuming Middle East peace talks will be changed to “Situation in the West Bank, in particular settlements”. An oral question on Germany’s revised road toll plan was moved from Thursday to Wednesday afternoon.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : The title of a statement by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on prospects for resuming Middle East peace talks will be changed to “Situation in the West Bank, in particular settlements”. An oral question on Germany’s revised road toll plan was moved from Thursday to Wednesday afternoon.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Media programme

Europa building - Brussels

+/- 10.15 Arrival of Vice President of the United States Mike Pence
Welcome by the President of the European Council Donald Tusk
(Europa VIP entrance, level 0 - photo/TV opportunity pool*)

+/- 11.00 Press statements
(Europa press room, level 1 - access on first come, first served basis)

Accreditation

Journalists holding a 6-month badge (01.01.2017 - 30.06.2017) do not need to register.
Journalists without the above badge must apply on https://eventaccreditationjour.consilium.europa.eu until Friday 17 February 2017, 12.00.
Accreditation badges must be collected from the LEX building (145 rue de la Loi, Brussels) on Monday, 20 February from 7.00 to the end of the event. Original documents need to be produced when collecting the badge.

* Due to limited space, access to the Europa VIP entrance (level 0) for the photo opportunity will be pooled. Interested photographers and cameramen must express their interest by sending a written request by mail - deadline Thursday 16 February 2017, 17.00 - to press.centre@consilium.europa.eu. The Council press office will build the pool to ensure appropriate geographical balance.

Photos and video coverage of the event will be available for preview and download on http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu

Livestream on http://video.consilium.europa.eu

The workshop was organized on October 13, 2016 at the initiative of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) with the aim of assessing relations between Saudi Arabia and the Member States in the field of armaments cooperation, touching on the absence of a common European position in this area.
Agnès Levallois, lecturer at Sciences Po Paris and ENA, is affiliated to the Académie Diplomatique and works as a consultant, specialising in political, strategic and economic issues in the Middle East. Jane Kinninmont is a senior research fellow and deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House.
Further information
Workshop - In Depth Analysis
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs vote this week on plans to reform the EU's emissions trading system (ETS), a scheme set up to help reduce greenhouse gases, which is not not working as expected. Although the EU is the world's third largest CO2 emitter, it also harbours the most ambitious climate target: to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The plans voted on in Parliament this week should help achieve this target while maintaining Europe’s industrial competitiveness.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs vote this week on plans to reform the EU's emissions trading system (ETS), a scheme set up to help reduce greenhouse gases, which is not not working as expected. Although the EU is the world's third largest CO2 emitter, it also harbours the most ambitious climate target: to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The plans voted on in Parliament this week should help achieve this target while maintaining Europe’s industrial competitiveness.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Antonio Tajani made his first official visit to Spain as president of the European Parliament on 10 February. During the visit he met several political leaders as well as representatives from civil society and Spanish companies.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Good afternoon. It was a real pleasure for me to meet President Van der Bellen for the first time since his election last December, and of course to welcome Chancellor Kern again here in Brussels.

One of the issues we discussed is our cooperation when Austria takes over the EU's rotating Presidency in the second half of the next year. Holding the presidency is a privilege and opportunity, but also a demanding task. I remember this from my own experience as Polish Prime Minister. I assured the President and the Chancellor of my full support and cooperation.

During our very constructive meeting, we also talked about the migration challenge. I know that this is an issue that continues to be on the minds of many Austrian citizens. At the height of the migration crisis, Austria was very much at the centre of the storm. Since then we have in fact, through collective decisions, determination and actions, stemmed the flow via the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route. Our main goal is and will remain the effective control of the EU's external border. The last four months have seen only 2%, let me repeat 2%, of the number of irregular migrants that came to Europe from Turkey at the peak of the crisis in the same period in 2015. So, we have come a long way since then.

At our informal meeting of the European Council in Malta ten days ago, we focused on how to reduce illegal migration from Libya to Italy, the so-called Central Mediterranean route. EU leaders agreed on immediate operational measures, to be implemented in cooperation with Libya and its neighbours, that should help reduce the number of irregular migrants and save lives at sea. The EU will also support Member States' bilateral activities in this regard. But, and this is something that Chancellor Kern and I very much agree on, we also have to remain vigilant about the Eastern Mediterranean route. It needs to stay closed for good, and close cooperation with our partners in the Balkans and in Turkey remains key to ensure this. It is clear that we will have to take additional steps in some areas. Ensuring effective returns is one of them.

Another important topic of discussion was the future of the EU. As we approach the sixtieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in March, the challenges that the EU is facing are bigger than at any time since the signature of the Treaty of Rome. The geopolitical situation is difficult, to say the least, and populist forces are coming to the fore in many European countries. In some circles, it has become fashionable to be anti-EU. This is why I again expressed my great admiration and respect for President Van der Bellen, whose victory became a sign of hope for millions of Europeans.

When European leaders meet in Rome in March, we will on the one hand take stock of the EU's achievements and on the other hand, look into the future and discuss how the EU can better deliver for its citizens. Personally, I am deeply convinced that it is worth fighting for what we Europeans have already accomplished over the last sixty years.

Thank you.

On 19 December 2016, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2315[1]. The Council Decision extends existing measures until 31 July 2017. 

The Candidate Countries Montenegro* and Albania*, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, align themselves with this Council Decision. 

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision. 

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it. 

 [1] Published on 20.12.2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 345, p. 65. 

* Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. 

On 27 January 2017, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/153[1]. The Council Decision extends the existing restrictive measures until 31 January 2018. The measures in question are an assets freeze and a prohibition on making funds available regarding 48 individuals considered as responsible for the misappropriation of Tunisian State funds before 2011. 

The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this  Council Decision. 

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision. 

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it. 

 [1] Published on 28.01.2017 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L23, p. 19.

 *The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

   

To receive the Brussels Briefing in your inbox every morning, register for a free FT account here and then sign up here.

Uncertainty abounds. Mr Trump has veered from dismissing Nato to saying he backs it. “Let’s put it this way: people are attached to Twitter, and it changes every half hour,” said a senior Nato diplomat. Still, allies were reassured that Gen Mattis and Rex Tillerson, the new secretary of state, expressed support for the organisation at their Senate confirmation hearings.

Read more

The Monthly Highlights newsletter features publications on EU cattle sector, Brexit, Russia, drug policy, EU agencies and structural and investment funds.
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Today the Greek minister of Finance, the institutions (European Commission, ECB, ESM and IMF) and I had a constructive meeting on the state of play of the second review

There is a clear understanding that a timely finalisation of the second review is in everybody's interest

We made substantial progress today and are close to common ground for the mission to return to Athens the coming week

We will take stock of the further progress of the second review during the next Eurogroup.

On behalf of the European Council and personally, I would like to congratulate you on your election as President of the Federal Republic of Germany. I wish you every success in your new role.

Your appointment comes at a critical moment for Europe. The many external and internal challenges we are facing could hardly be more severe. In times like these, European unity is more important than ever, and I look forward to Germany's continued contribution to the European project. 

DRAFT OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast)
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Ramona Nicole Mănescu

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Monday 13 February 2017
14.00 Meeting with President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Christian Kern (press statements ± 14.30)

Wednesday 15 February 2017
11.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis

Thursday 16 February 2017
10.00 Meeting with President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev

Monday 20 February 2017
10:15 Meeting with United States Vice-President Mike Pence

Item 12: Military cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe - Presentation by General Andrzej Falkowski, Polish Military Representative to NATO : [EN]
Item 12: Military cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe - Presentation by Colonel Serhii Rechych, Defence Adviser, Mission of Ukraine to the EU : [EN]
Item 13: The future of EU Battlegroups - Presentation by General Daniel Grammatico, Director Operations, EU Military Staff : [EN]
Item 14: The European Security and Defence College as a key training provider in the field of CSDP - Presentation by Dirk Dubois, Head of the ESDC : [EN]
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The Council working group that oversees implementation of the EU's code of conduct on business taxation has appointed a new chairperson.

Fabrizia Lapecorella (Italy) took up the position at the beginning of February 2017 for a period of two years. Appointed at the group's meeting on 25 January 2017, she replaces Dr Wolfgang Nolz (Austria), who had chaired the group since 2009.

The code of conduct on business taxation sets out criteria for assessing tax measures that potentially encourage harmful tax competition. It is implemented through a voluntary commitment by member states to peer-reviewed 'standstill' (refraining from introducing harmful new tax measures) and 'rollback' (abolishing existing harmful tax measures). 

The code was established by Council conclusions adopted in December 1997. 

New areas of work 

Work has more recently expanded to new areas, such as:

• anti-abuse measures;
• transparency and the exchange of information in the area of transfer pricing;
• administrative practices;
• links to third countries.

In these areas, several 'soft law' initiatives (i.e. rules that are neither strictly binding nor lacking legal significance) have been agreed. 

Implementing the code

The code of conduct group, established in 1998, is responsible for implementing the code of conduct and is a formal preparatory body of the Council. It is assisted by several subgroups, chaired by the rotating presidency. Two subgroups are currently active: one on third countries and the other on clarification of the 3rd and 4th criteria of the code. 

One of the group's main tasks for the near future will be to finalise establishment of an EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions in tax matters. 

On 1 February 2017, the process was launched by the dispatching of letters to 92 third-country jurisdictions, requesting information in accordance with Council Conclusions of 8 November 2016 on the criteria for and process leading to the establishment of the EU list. 

The code of conduct group will conduct and oversee this screening process, supported by the Council's secretariat. The Commission's services will assist it by carrying out the necessary preparatory work. 

Curriculum Vitae 

Ms Lapecorella is director general of finance at the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. She is a member and vice-chair of the bureau of the OECD's committee on fiscal affairs and a member of the OECD's steering group of the 'inclusive framework' on BEPS (tax base erosion and profit shifting) implementation.

In 2014, during the Italian presidency of the Council, she chaired the high level working party on taxation matters.