Turkey to let Syrians work in bid to stem refugee flow into EU

The EU hopes that if refugees have opportunity to work in Turkey, they will be less inclined to seek asylum in Europe

January 11, 2016 4:00PM ET

by Michael Pizzi   @michaelwpizzi

Turkey plans to offer work permits for Syrian refugees, an official said Monday, announcing a step that was praised by advocates for refugees, although the policy is primarily aimed at slowing the flow of refugees into Europe.

“We are trying to reduce the pressure for illegal migration by giving Syrians in Turkey work permits," Volkan Bazkir, Turkey’s minister for European Affairs, told reporters on Monday.

The shift by Turkey, which has become the world’s biggest host of refugees since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, comes after a deal struck between Ankara and the European Union in November over how to manage the surge of Syrian refugees into Europe.

The EU promised to give Turkey $3.3 billion in cash and to renew talks on incorporating Turkish passports into the EU’s Schengen visa-free zone. In return, Turkey, a critical transit point for Syrians seeking asylum in Europe, vowed to tighten border security and improve living conditions for Syrian refugees in Turkey, so they would be less likely to leave.

Until now, all but 6,000 of the 2.2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey have been barred from entering the formal labor market, mainly due to concerns they will displace Turkish nationals in the workforce. Turkey’s unemployment rate is about 10 percent. While camps run by the United Nation provide for their basic needs, the vast majority of Syrian refugees in Turkey choose to live in towns to provide their families a more normal life – and therefore need an income to survive. Many refugees find jobs doing menial labor, daily wage construction work, while others, especially women taking care of families on their own, resort to prostitution, begging, and forcing their children to work — what the U.N. refers to as “negative coping mechanisms.”

Advocates for refugees have long called for host countries to give refugees the right to work legally, which is stipulated under the Geneva Convention but not always observed. While officials have raised concerns in Jordan and other countries in the region about stoking societal tensions if local populations perceive refugees to be “stealing” their jobs, advocates say that allowing refugees to work can be beneficial to the country in the long term.

Barring access to work permits “forces people into informal labor market where their rights are not protected and their situations are precarious, fostering exploitation and in some cases making it impossible for them to work,” said Alexander Aleinikoff, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and the former U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees. “So it produces a situation of eventual long-term dependency on the international humanitarian system, which is not good for anyone.”

The $3.3 billion in cash the European Union has promised Turkey is meant to offset some of the costs involved in folding Syrians into the workforce and expanding education for Syrian children, which Bozkir also said was a top priority.

The deal is seen as mutually beneficial for Turkey, which hopes to eventually join the EU, as well as for Europe, which faces a rapidly growing refugee crisis of people from Syria and elsewhere. EU officials fear that the 1 million asylum seekers who reached its shores in 2015 may pose a security threat, and that Europe will not be able to properly integrate them. Offering cash to Syria’s neighboring countries, which have already absorbed more than 4 million refugees to date, is a stopgap measure to keep the Syrian crisis at arms-length until the violence starts to abate.

Aleinikoff said many Syrian refugees may prefer this approach. “I think it’s likely that if given opportunities to work in Turkey many will choose to stay there because it’s closer to Syria and the hope is eventual return to their home country," he said. Still, allowing Syrians to work is “not the same as integration,” and does not imply a path to citizenship, he added. "So I don’t think it’s a panacea for their onward movement.”

With Reuters

Failed Paris police station attacker lived in German refugee shelter

German police on Saturday raided an asylum seeker shelter where they said the man who sought to attack a Paris police station on Thursday had lived.

Police found no indications that other attacks had been planned, they said in a statement following the search at the shelter in western Germany's Recklinghausen.

The police statement did not specify that he was an asylum seeker but a source close to the matter told AFP the man was indeed registered as one.

The man was shot dead by police after trying to storm a police station in northern Paris on Thursday, brandishing a meat cleaver and wearing a fake suicide vest. The attempted attack took place exactly one year since the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks that shook Paris.

Investigations are ongoing in close cooperation with French authorities, said police from the state of North Rhine Westphalia, declining to give further information for fear of compromising the probe.

French investigators said Friday the suspect appeared to have been identified by his family and was said to be a Tunisian named Tarek Belgacem.

His link to an asylum seeker shelter in Germany risks further inflaming a debate over the 1.1 millionasylum seekers that the country took in last year.

Tensions were already running high after a spate of sexual assaults and thefts during New Year's Eve festivities in the western city of Cologne, with police saying suspects of the crime spree were mostly asylum seekers and migrants.

Cologne police had said earlier Saturday that they have recorded 379 cases of violence during the rampage that night.

(AFP)

Date created : 2016-01-10

Number of New Year’s Eve cases in Germany rises to over 600

Attacks on women in Cologne and other German cities on New Year’s Eve have prompted more than 600 criminal complaints, with police suspicion resting on asylum seekers, putting pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel and her open door migrant policy.

The attacks, mostly targeting women and ranging from theft to sexual molestation, have prompted a highly-charged debate in Germany about its welcoming stance for refugees and migrants, more than one million of whom arrived last year.

The sudden nature of the violent attacks and the fact that they stretched from Hamburg to Frankfurt prompted Germany’s justice minister Heiko Maas to speculate in a newspaper that they had been planned or coordinated.

The debate on migration will be further fuelled by the acknowledgement by the authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia that a man shot dead as he tried to enter a Paris police station last week was an asylum seeker with seven identities who lived in Germany.

In Cologne, police said on Sunday that 516 criminal complaints had been filed by individuals or groups in relation to assaults on New Year’s Eve, while police in Hamburg said 133 similar charges had been lodged with the north German city.

Frankfurt also registered complaints, although far fewer.

The investigation in Cologne is focused largely on asylum seekers or illegal migrants from North Africa, police said. They arrested one 19-year-old Moroccan man on Saturday evening.

In Cologne, where a 100-strong force of officers continued their investigations, around 40 percent of the complaints included sexual offences, including two rapes.

Dwindling trust

The attacks, which prompted violent far-right protests on Saturday, threatens to further erode confidence in Merkel, and could stoke support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of three key state elections in March.

Merkel’s popularity has dwindled as she refused to place a limit on the influx of refugees.

A survey sponsored by state broadcaster ARD showed that while 75 percent of those asked were very happy with Merkel’s work in April last year, only 58 percent were pleased now.

Almost three quarters of those polled said migration was the most important issue for the government to deal with in 2016.

The Cologne attacks also heated up the debate on immigration in neighbouring Austria.

“What happened in Cologne is unbelievable and unacceptable,” Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, a member of the conservative People’s Party that is junior coalition partner to the Social Democrats, told newspaper Oesterreich.

There had been a handful of similar incidents in the border city of Salzburg. “Such offenders should be deported,” she said, backing a similar suggestion by Merkel.

Swiss media contained numerous stories about sexual assaults on women by foreigners, fuelling tensions ahead of a referendum next month that would trigger the automatic deportation of foreigners convicted of some crimes.

In Germany, on Monday, a regional parliamentary commission will quiz police and others about the events on New Year’s Eve in Cologne.

The anti-Islam PEGIDA, whose supporters threw bottles and fire crackers at a march in Cologne on Saturday before being dispersed by riot police, will later hold a rally in the eastern German city of Leipzig.

The far-right will likely seize on reports that the Paris attacker, who was shot last week as he wielded a meat cleaver and shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is Greatest), was known to police for drug dealing and harassing women.

He had an apartment in an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Recklinghausen, north of Cologne, where he had painted the symbol of Islamic state on the wall of two rooms.

(REUTERS)

Date created : 2016-01-10

Merkel calls for investigation into 'repugnant' attacks

German leaders expressed shock over dozens of apparently coordinated sexual assaults against women on New Year's Eve in the western city of Cologne blamed on "Arab-looking men," but warned against anti-migrant scapegoating.

Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a thorough investigation of the "repugnant" attacks, ranging from groping to at least one reported rape, allegedly committed in a large crowd of revellers during year-end festivities outside the city's main train station and its famed Gothic cathedral.

Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said she had called Cologne's mayor, Henriette Reker, to express her "outrage" over the violence, which she said required "a tough response from the state".

"Everything must be done to find as many of the perpetrators as possible as quickly as possible and bring them to justice, regardless of their origin or background," Seibert quoted Merkel as saying.

Police in Cologne said they had received 90 criminal complaints by Tuesday and quoted witnesses as saying that groups of 20-30 young men "who appeared to be of Arab or North African origin" had surrounded victims, assaulted them and in several cases robbed them.

Germany took in around one million asylum seekers in 2015, many of them fleeing war-ravaged Syria.

A plain-clothes policewoman was reportedly among those attacked.

"We assume more people will come forward," police chief Wolfgang Albers told reporters.

The northern port city of Hamburg also reported around 10 similar attacks.

On Tuesday evening 200-300 people, according to police estimates, gathered in front of Cologne cathedral calling for more respect for women.

One female demonstrator held a sign reading: "Mrs. Merkel, what are you doing? This is scary".

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere lashed out at Cologne police for failing to stop the assaults.

"The police cannot work in this way," de Maiziere told public TV channel ARD.

Police said they evacuated the area because of fears people could be injured by fireworks – and admitted the assaults then began without them realising what was happening.

"It is not acceptable that the square could be evacuated and then (the attacks) take place" in the same location, with officers "waiting for complaints" from victims before taking action, de Maiziere said.

"I am urgently demanding clarification."

'Exploitation' of refugee issue

Justice Minister Heiko Maas said the assaults represented "a new dimension of crime that we will have to get to grips with," adding that they had appeared to be "coordinated".

Asked by a journalist whether refugees were behind the rampage, Maas said police were still working to identify the attackers.

"This is not about where someone is from but what they did," he said.

"Making an issue out of it, lumping it together with the refugee issue, is nothing but exploitation. Now is the time to determine the facts and then decide on the necessary consequences."

Meanwhile the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which hopes to gain seats in three regional elections in March, seized on the attacks as "a result of unchecked immigration".

"Here we see the appalling consequences of catastrophic asylum and migration policies on Germany's everyday reality," party leader Frauke Petry said.

The Cologne daily Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger said many of the suspects were already known to police due to a rash of pickpocketing and muggings near the railway station.

'It was terrible'

Victims described terrifying scenes in the marauding mob.

Katja L., 28, said she was with three friends outside the station when they encountered a group of "foreign-looking men".

"Suddenly I felt a hand on my bottom, then on my breasts, then I was groped everywhere," she told Cologne tabloid Express.

"It was horrible. Although we screamed and flailed about, the guys didn't stop. I was beside myself and think that I was touched about 100 times across around 200 metres (yards)."

A woman in her 30s interviewed on rolling news channel N24 said she was groped by a group of "Arab-looking men".

"They didn't look at me aggressively, they seemed more curious than anything, and a little drunk," she said.

"I was furious."

Cologne mayor Reker, who was stabbed in the neck in October in an attack apparently over her welcoming stance toward refugees, called a crisis meeting with political officials and police Tuesday after the case made national headlines.

She pledged to step up security and violence-prevention measures ahead of next month's raucous Carnival, which draws hundreds of thousands to party in the city's streets.

Albers said security cameras and better lighting would be installed for the February 4-10 event, including around the main rail station.

Merkel in her televised New Year's address called on Germans to continue to welcome refugees despite mounting criticism and to reject far-right ideologues whipping up anti-migrant sentiment.

(AFP)

EU chief warns Poland on new media law

EU Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on Sunday threatened to put Poland on notice for infringing on common European values by passing legislation giving the government control of the state media.

The move would start a series of steps that, if the law remains in place, could eventually see Warsawlose its voting rights at the European Council, the organisation that groups the leaders of all 28 EU nations.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper, Oettinger, who is commissioner for the digital economy and society, warned: "Many reasons exist for us to activate the 'Rule of Law mechanism' and for us to place Warsaw under monitoring."

His remarks come after Poland's conservative government on Wednesday took control of state media after new legislation was passed giving it the power to directly appoint the heads of public broadcasters, despite EU concern and condemnation from rights watchdogs.

According to FAZ, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has placed the issue on the agenda of the commission's next meeting on January 13.

The newspaper reported that Juncker was seeking to start a procedure in place since 2014 to protect against "systemic dangers to the rule of law".

Under that procedure, if the country in question does not accept changes to proposals put forward by the commission, the commission can initiate a "procedure over the violation of fundamental European values", FAZ said.

Though the procedure has not yet been initiated, the potential sanctions could include "the withdrawal of voting rights" for the country in question, according to FAZ.

Oettinger plans to call for the procedure to be initiated against Poland, FAZ wrote, citing him as saying: "A director (of public radio or television) cannot be dismissed without cause. It would be arbitrary."

Under the new law, senior figures in public radio and television will in future be appointed -- and sacked -- by the treasury minister, and no longer through contests by the National Broadcasting Council.

The new legislation will also see the current managers and supervisory board members of Poland's public broadcasters fired with immediate effect.

It has been met with sharp criticism from media rights organisations including Reporters Without Borders, the European Broadcasting Union and the Association of European Journalists.

Catalonia parliament elects new pro-independence leader

The majority secessionist lawmakers in Catalonia's parliament voted in a new leader Sunday, tasking him with overseeing the wealthy region's breakaway from Spain in a last-minute show of unity after months of bitter infighting.

Carles Puigdemont was elected regional president with 70 votes for, 63 against and two abstentions, giving Catalonia's high-profile independence movement a fresh lease of life and drawing a sharp rebuke from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who vowed to fight for his country's unity.

"The government won't allow a single act that could harm the unity and sovereignty of Spain," Rajoy warned in a live, televised appearance in Madrid.

After months of acrimony, Catalonia's pro-independence faction that won regional parliamentary elections in September finally came to an agreement this weekend over who should lead the new local government.

The focus of the squabble had been Artur Mas, the incumbent, separatist regional president whom the far-left CUP party – part of the secessionist faction that won the polls – rejected over his support for austerity and corruption scandals linked to his party.

And with Mas stubbornly refusing to step aside as a weekend deadline to form a government loomed,Catalonia seemed to be heading for fresh elections, which would have been the fourth since 2010.

But in a surprise move Mas agreed to step aside on Saturday, naming the relatively unknown politician Puigdemont as his successor.

The 53-year-old mayor of Girona – who comes from a fervently pro-independence family – will now appoint his cabinet.

"We need... to start the process to set up an independent state in Catalonia," Puigdemont said in a speech to the northeastern region's parliament ahead of the vote.

'Power vacuum in Madrid'

The last-ditch agreement to form a Catalan government stands in stark contrast to the situation in Madrid, where the national government is in limbo following inconclusive December polls.

Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) came top in the December 20 elections but lost its absolute majority, leaving him struggling to form a coalition government as other parties refuse to support him.

"The (separatist) coalition is profiting from the power vacuum in Madrid," headlined online daily El Espanol on Sunday.

So far the PP's traditional Socialist rivals (PSOE), who came second in the elections, have refused to back him.

But ironically, the newly reached separatist deal may put pressure on the PSOE to stand united with the PP over its opposition to Catalonia breaking away from Spain.

"We reiterate our support for the caretaker government to enforce the law and defend the Constitution," Socialist lower house parliamentary group spokesman Antonio Hernando told reporters earlier Sunday.

And Fernando Martinez-Maillo of the PP stressed that there was "no better way to confront secessionism than to see the Popular Party and the Socialist party join forces."

Donald Trump threatens to pull £700m investment from Scotland

Donald Trump has threatened to withhold £700m of investment in Scotland if he is banned from entering the UK.

MPs will debate later this month whether the US presidential hopeful should be refused entry.

It follows the billionaire property tycoon calling for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US.

More than half a million people backed a petition calling on the tycoon to be barred for his comments, triggering a debate in the Commons.

However, there will be no vote at the end of the debate and it will be up to Home Secretary Theresa May to decide whether or not Mr Trump should be excluded from the UK.

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Mr Trump owns the Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire as well as Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen.

In a statement, his Trump Organisation said it had planned to invest more than £200m at Turnberry and a further £500m at the Aberdeenshire course.

But it warned that any action to restrict travel would force it to "immediately end these and all future investments we are currently contemplating in the United Kingdom".

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionMr Trump bought the Turnberry course last year for about £35m

It added: "Westminster would create a dangerous precedent and send a terrible message to the world that the United Kingdom opposes free speech and has no interest in attracting inward investment.

"This would also alienate the many millions of United States citizens who wholeheartedly support Mr Trump and have made him the forerunner by far in the 2016 presidential election.

"Many people now agree with Mr Trump that there is a serious problem that must be resolved. This can only be achieved if we are willing discuss these tough issues openly and honestly."

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last month joined the calls for Mr Trump to be considered for exclusion from the UK.

Prime Minister David Cameron has previously labelled Mr Trump's comments "stupid" but said he did not support a ban, telling MPs the tycoon would "unite us all against him" if he visited the UK.