What Angela Merkel’s New Refugee Policy Misses
German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently announced that she will make changes to the broad refugee policy she adopted in August, which dramatically expanded the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe and resulted in Germany receiving 1 million migrants this year. Merkel drew – and deserved – widespread praise for the humanitarian spirit of her policy, but her plan produced five major problems, for herself, other European governments, and the asylum seekers. Germany and the European Union, as well as the prospects for genuine and sustained protection of Syrians, could benefit greatly from shifting to a different model of refugee protection.
The first and most obvious problem: The unexpectedly large flows of asylum seekers are imposing major costs on receiving communities. They also strain the sheer logistical capacity of Germany and other European states – despite impressive rallying of support from governments and many parts of civil society. Merkel’s own party had highlighted this concern in pressing her for changes.