Bremen – ESI at CDU debate on migration

23 September 2024
CDU Bremen
Photo: CDU Bremen

ESI’s Gerald Knaus was invited to debate with CDU MP Thomas Röwekamp, on “Migration between humanity and order”, organised by the CDU in the state of Bremen.

Gerald discussed the current migration situation in Germany, Europe, and globally, focusing on the tension between humanity and order, controlled and uncontrolled migration, and the distinctions between refugees and labour migrants.

He emphasised the need for a fact-based debate on migration, deportations, and control, explaining why many deportations do not reflect effective policy. Gerald noted that there were 16,000 deportations last year, compared to 25,000 in 2016. However, many of the 2016 deportations involved transfers to other European countries, primarily the Balkan states. Few deportations are carried out to countries outside Europe, such as Georgia or Moldova. He argued that deportations are a blunt tool for migration control, not just for Germany. When people arrive in the EU from other regions, the likelihood of them staying is high, creating an incentive to attempt entry. For the Balkan states, Gerald suggested that discouraging unviable asylum applications, as Switzerland has done, is a more effective approach.

Gerald identified a key issue with deportations: all European countries face the same challenge—lack of cooperation from countries of origin. He argued that border controls and plans to turn people back within the Schengen area are misguided efforts to reduce irregular migration, as they are ineffective. He added that the only party advocating for a border wall is the AfD.

Instead, Gerald argued for a renewal of the EU-Turkey Statement, noting that the original agreement led to a sharp annual decline in asylum seekers from Turkey and fewer deaths until the statement’s collapse in 2020. He criticised the German government’s opposition to the EU’s safe third-country agreements in 2023 and argued that reforming the Dublin system is unworkable. He dismissed “Turbo-Dublin” plans as destined to fail, warning against using thousands of Dublin cases as a deterrent, leaving people homeless for months.

Finally, Gerald described the dangers posed by the anti-migrant narrative promoted by right-wing populist parties, warning that such rhetoric fuels xenophobia, undermines social cohesion, and legitimises discriminatory policies.

Bremen
Photo: ESI