German Elation Over Merkel Refugee Welcome Fails to Trickle Down

“If we were not able to guarantee security, then a situation would arise that would be even worse than Srebrenica”, Merkel said, according to a number of people present in the meeting, referring to the slaughter of a few 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces in 1995.

Just weeks after politicians from Germany’s mainstream parties embraced Angela Merkel’s unusually warm welcome for refugees, the tone has turned sober, reflecting growing fears about the scale of looming problems.

Focusing their attention mainly on culture, business and issues relating to nuclear non-proliferation and climate change, German leaders have often shied away from discussing grand strategy with their Indian counterparts. German President Joachim Gauck has recently said the country could not keep its open-door policy forever, the Express reported.

He added that many are anxious and asking “will the influx overburden us eventually”.

Migrants must understand “they can not choose the states where they are seeking protection”, he told reporters, as Germany also temporarily halted all train traffic to and from Austria – which restarted on Monday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is creating more jobs and promoting his policies of attracting manufacturing industry to India under the slogan “Make in India” and of creating smart cities.

He said that while Dr Merkel has no strong conservative rival, a very small minority in the party’s grassroots has started to ask whether she can remain popular enough to win votes again in 2017, when she is expected to seek a fourth term.

More than 200,000 people are estimated to have arrived in Germany in September alone – roughly the same as for all of past year – and the government estimates that 800,000 or more might come over the course of 2015.

Germany’s ambassador to India Martin Ney said the issues which have blocked the agreement could be addressed only if the two sides came to the table, putting the onus on India.

The bloc comprises Merkel’s Christian Democrats and Seehofer’s Bavaria-only Christian Social Union, which has always been an awkward ally.

Merkel will be accompanied by a large delegation including six cabinet ministers and high-profile business leaders.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka insisted his country would never accept compulsory quotas, saying the system “won’t work”, while Slovakia said it would try to block any such binding measures. He told a TV talk show: “It has gotten out of control with the decision to draw out the people from Hungary to Germany”.

“The federal government is ready to pay a lump sum of €670 per month to cover the asylum-seekers costs”.

“This is a complete about-face”.

The positive media coverage Germany has been getting for its response to the refugee influx comes after months of bad press for its response to the crisis in Greece, but it has also been neutralised by the VW emissions scandal.