The Federal Government to Halt Payments to Private Sea Rescuers, Chancellor Scholz Supports the Decision

The federal government will apparently stop payments to private sea rescuers. Chancellor Olaf Scholz seems to agree with this.

According to a media report, the federal government is no longer planning to make payments to private sea rescuers next year. As “Bild” reported, citing the Federal Foreign Office’s partial budget for 2024, there is no longer any mention of such financial support – unlike the budget for 2023.

The “Bild” reported, citing circles in the Bundestag’s budget committee, that the Federal Chancellery was against further payments and that the Foreign Office saw it similarly. Most recently, FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr called for an end to government payments to sea rescuers.

Chancellor Scholz made a statement on the sidelines of the European summit in Granada and distanced himself from the public financing of the sea rescue of refugees in the Mediterranean by aid organizations. At a press conference after the informal EU summit in Granada on Friday, he emphasized that the money had been approved by the Bundestag and not by the federal government. “I didn’t make the request,” he said. When asked what his personal opinion was on this, he added: “That is my opinion that I did not submit the application. And I think that is unmistakable.”

The financial support of private sea rescuers had recently caused considerable disputes between Germany and Italy. Italy’s ultra-right head of government Giorgia Meloni recently complained about German payments to sea rescue workers in a letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and said at the end of September that countries under whose flag such ships were traveling should also take in the rescued migrants.

The EU is facing a new test because of the dispute over migration policy and aid for Ukraine. Hungary and Poland prevented a planned declaration on migration policy at a summit in Granada, Spain. The reason was the ongoing anger over plans for an asylum reform, which envisages mandatory solidarity with states particularly affected by migration. In addition, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced resistance to support plans for Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Poland and Hungary for their stance on the migration issue, without naming the states. Countries that criticized the common European approach to irregular migration should not simultaneously “wave” refugees through to Germany, he said.