German Trade Union Confederation urges EU strategy to take in refugees

After the fire disaster in the Greek refugee camp Moria, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) is pushing for actions within the European Union.

Berlin - "Europe finally needs a common strategy to take in refugees," said DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann to Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (Saturday edition). The EU had to put thumbscrews on those member states that refused to accept their share of the people. "You have to check whether EU aid can be cut. Or these countries pay into a fund that will then benefit the host countries." European solidarity is not a one-way street. In his words, no state should "collect all the aid from Brussels and then be able to evade its tasks in the common refugee policy".

Despite the welcome initiative to take in refugee minors, the fire disaster is new evidence of the extremely poor constitution of the European Union. For years, the EU watched thousands of people live in inhumane conditions. "That has to end now," demanded Hoffmann and welcomed it as "extremely good" that German municipalities had declared themselves ready to accept thousands of refugees in this difficult situation.

"The federal government must now ensure that immediate help is possible."

Source: Dernewsticker.de

Photo: dpa/AFP Bernd Von Jutrczenka