German coalition government parties agree on merger law
After months of negotiations, senior officials in Germany's ruling coalition have finally reached an agreement on a refugee integration law. The Christian Democrats, Christian Social Democrats and Social Democrats have also reached an agreement on an anti-terrorism document.
After hours of discussions in the Chancellor's office, senior officials from Germany's ruling coalition have reached an agreement on the outlines of the integration law, which will establish a program for the employment of refugees.
These include creating 100,000 additional job opportunities based on government funding, "unconditional entry into the German labor market, and the provision of meaningful and needed employment during the asylum period."
According to information obtained by the German television network ARD, the basic principles of this law are based on "help and request." This means that the asylum seeker is given state assistance to integrate into the host society, but at the same time, efforts are also required from him.
The outlines of the law will be outlined at a conference of prime ministers on April 22, 2016. The German government plans to decide on the draft law at a meeting in Meßberg on May 24, 2016.
Apparently, the Christian Democratic, Christian Social, and Social Democratic parties in Germany have not yet reached an agreement on some points. Among other things, the extent to which asylum seekers should be required to join the union is still a matter of dispute.
The document, which was made available to the main studio of German Channel 1 in Berlin, recommends that integration should be made a duty for the asylum seeker and that its performance should be assessed. This assessment will determine the subsequent services provided to him. In other words, if the asylum seeker refuses what is required of him for integration or does not do it properly, the services provided to him will be reduced.
Based on this document, the decision on the resettlement of refugees has been finalized. In addition, the employment of refugees as hired workers has been allowed. There is still disagreement between the coalition of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social parties on the one hand and the Social Democratic Party on the other hand over the balance between "help and demand".
Fighting terrorism
In addition, party leaders and faction heads have reached an agreement on a document on combating terrorism. This document includes, among other things, strengthening security organizations and increasing the possibility of exchanging information between them.
Angela Merkel, Horst Seehofer and Sigmar Gabriel, the leaders of Germany's three Christian Democrats, Christian Social Democrats and Social Democrats, will announce the details of the document on Thursday (April 14).
Despite disagreements on some issues, such as employment and inheritance taxes, the German government coalition has expressed satisfaction with the decisions made.
