Concern grows in Germany as refugee numbers continue to rise

Merkel told German newspaper the Bild that additional sources of revenue to handle the well-publicized influx of refugees will not be necessary because the budget is in surplus and the Government’s finances are in a healthy position.

“Without a doubt Turkey plays a key role in this situation”, Merkel said in a speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament on Thursday ahead of an European Union summit in Brussels later.

She says the issue needs to be addressed by the rest of Europe and in the Middle East. On Sunday she will visit Turkey to seek Ankara’s assistance in overcoming the crisis.

On the home front, Merkel has bravely insisted “we can do it”, recalling US President Barack Obama’s campaign rallying cry of “Yes we can”.

Merkel said further legislative changes must follow.

The CDU has seen the defection of a number of thousand members, whereas often rock-strong approval scores for Merkel and her party are slipping.

And Mrs Merkel’s promise to grant automatic citizenship to refugees was blasted for encouraging more migrants to make the treacherous journey.

Bild even asserted Merkel was dropping the help of her loyal veteran Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and mused whether or not he might substitute her. “He disapproves of what she is doing”. It’s one that the established political parties ignore at their peril.

An estimated 170,000 migrants arrived in Bavaria alone last month.

State Premier Horst Seehofer stated Thursday a few 300,000 refugees had arrived since September 1 and that municipalities have been struggling to manage. “In Germany we have fiscal space… others in Europe probably don’t have so much, and nonetheless the problem must be solved”.

The list of countries Germany deems “safe” will be widened to include Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro, whose citizens will generally have no chance of being granted asylum.

The law will also replace cash payments for asylum seekers with vouchers for food and other services to reduce a financial incentive for a few migrants.

German government plans to establish transit zones for registering people seeking protection will have to be temporary and can only lead to a limited reintroduction of border checks, the European Commission said on Tuesday (13 October).