The Greens have rejected the FDP’s proposal for a “Midpoint Migration Pact” with the CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens. According to EU Parliament member Erik Marquardt, in an interview with the Welt, it is in the best interest of the Greens to see European law implemented and a more just and fair EU asylum system established.
However, Marquardt emphasized that this cannot be achieved through hasty legislation packages without thorough debate and expert hearings. “Gesetze werden ohne detaillierte Debatte und Expertenanhörungen ja nicht besser” he said. “Das einfach so durchzuwinken als ginge es nur über Überschriften und nicht um den Inhalt, wäre einem Parlament unwürdig.”
The CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag has shown openness to the FDP’s proposal. Alexander Dobrindt, the head of the CSU’s parliamentary group, stated that the FDP has presented an offer that was already on the table during the four-hour negotiations on Friday.
“We had actively offered to bundle the three known points from the Union’s asylum package with the SPD’s demand for a quick reform of the Common European Asylum System” Dobrindt said. “However, the SPD was not willing to agree. We even offered to time-limit the points of the asylum package. Even that did not prompt the SPD to come to an agreement.”
Despite this, the CDU/CSU’s offer remains unchanged. Andrea Lindholz, the CSU’s parliamentary vice-chair, emphasized that the party is still open to substantive discussions. “Now it’s up to the SPD to clarify whether it is still willing to engage in constructive solutions.”
Stephan Thomae, the parliamentary chief of the FDP’s faction, explained the party’s proposal: “If the GEAS adjustment bill and the asylum package were to be passed together, the SPD would also get something.”
Thomae further stated that the FDP’s proposal is an additional offer to the other factions, aimed at achieving a further agreement. He noted that the debate on Friday did not particularly benefit the CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, or FDP, but rather the AfD and BSW.