Berlin
Reuters
–
Germany says it will cut financial support for charities that save migrants in the Mediterranean and redirect resources to address the conditions of the source country that will spur people off to leave.
For decades, migrants, driven by war and poverty, created dangerous intersections to reach the southern borders of Europe.
“While Germany is humane and is committed to helping people in places where they suffer, I don’t think it’s the Foreign Ministry’s job to fund this type of ocean rescue,” Foreign Minister Johann Wadehul told a news conference.
“We need to operate in places where there is greatest need,” he added, referring to the war-shattered humanitarian emergency in Sudan.
Under the previous left-leaning government, Germany has now paid around 2 million euros ($2.34 million) a year to a non-governmental organization that rescues boats, including marine troubled migrants.
For them, it was an important source of funding. The German Sea Eye said the rescue charity has saved 175,000 lives since 2015, with around 10% of its total revenues of around 3.2 million euros from the German government.
Prime Minister Friedrich Merz’s conservatives won the national election in February after a campaign that pledged to curb irregular immigration, which some voters in Europe’s biggest economy deemed out of control.
While the overall numbers have been declining for several years, many Germans have denounced immigration-related fears about the rise of far-right alternatives in Germany (AFD), now the second largest party in parliament.
Many experts say that the level of immigration was driven primarily by the economic and humanitarian emergencies of the source country, and the official shoulders of the destination country had little effect on the deterrence of immigration.
Nevertheless, German officials suggest that the oceans will save people from the point of risking deadly intersections.
“The support of (the government) has enabled extra missions and saved lives very specifically,” said Gorden Eiler, chairman of CI. “Despite the emergency, we may have to stay at the port now.”
Opposition Green, who controlled the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the subsidies were introduced, criticized the move.
“This exacerbates the humanitarian crisis and deepens human suffering,” said Britta Hasselman, co-floor leader.
