Greens criticise Scholz as Germany tightens rules on asylum seekers

Stricter measures to deal with a large number of migrants arriving in Germany have been agreed by the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and state leaders, as NGOs criticized Italy’s plans to create centers in Albania to accommodate asylum seekers.

- Kate Connolly, Lisa O’Carroll, Lorenzo Tondo

After a marathon talks session in Berlin lasting until the early hours yesterday, Scholz said the measures would help speed up asylum procedures, restrict social benefits for migrants and provide more federal funding for local communities.

He said the decisions amounted to a “historic moment” for Germany, even as members of the Greens, part of the coalition government, said that cutting social benefits equated to letting asylum seekers live in poverty.

Julian Pahlke , of the Green party, told the news outlet Die Zeit: “This will increase social tensions and make integration even more difficult.”

Migration has once again become an explosive political challenge for Germany’s leaders, with the government feeling pressure from its ranks and from the opposition to curb the numbers of people arriving, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.