Germany to stop funding Mediterranean sea migrant rescues
The foreign ministry under the previous coalition, headed by the Greens minister Annalena Baerbock, had provided substantial financial support for NGOs that rescue migrants seeking to head to Europe from Africa.
That had drawn criticism from the centre-right CDU party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz that took power in May, and sparked a row with Rome since many of the rescued migrants were brought ashore in Italy.
The German government provided two million euros ($2.3 million) last year to organisations including SOS Humanity and SOS Mediterranee for rescuing migrants who ran into trouble, the ministry source said.
In the first quarter of this year, sea rescue NGOs received about 900,000 euros in government funding.
"The federal government does not plan to provide further financial support to non-governmental organisations involved in civilian sea rescue," the ministry source told AFP.
The withdrawal of funding comes as Merz's new government pursues a crackdown on irregular immigration, seeking to combat the growing appeal of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The Green party criticised the move as a "disastrous decision" by the CDU and its junior coalition partner, the centre-left SPD.
"The coalition is predictably exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean and causing human suffering," Greens lawmaker Britta Hasselmann told AFP.
Gorden Isler, chairman of the sea rescue NGO Sea-Eye, said the move sent a "catastrophic signal".
Financial support for Sea-Eye had helped the group conduct missions and save lives, he said.
Advertisement
"Now we might have to remain in port despite emergencies at sea," he said.
The news came a week after 21 maritime rescue groups called on Berlin to continue supporting their operations, and urged the European Union to provide substantial funding for rescue patrols and arrival centres.
The organisations said they had rescued more than 175,000 people from the Mediterranean over the past 10 years.
A row erupted between Germany and Italy over the sea rescues in 2023, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni writing a letter to then chancellor Olaf Scholz complaining about Berlin funding the operations.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk even waded into the row, saying the Berlin-backed sea rescue operations could be seen as an "invasion" of Italy.
Musk, who used to be a key adviser to US President Donald Trump, vocally backed the AfD ahead of elections in February, in which the party came second and scored a record result.
© Agence France-Presse
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
4 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Thousands Protest Calling For Thai PM's Resignation
Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign after a leaked diplomatic phone call stirred public anger over her leadership. A Cambodian elder statesman leaked a call meant to sooth a border spat between the two nations in which Paetongtarn called him "uncle" and referred to a Thai military commander as her "opponent". A key party abandoned Paetongtarn's coalition, accusing the 38-year-old dynastic premier of cow-towing to Cambodia and undermining Thailand's military, leaving her teetering with a slim parliamentary majority. Around 4,000 demonstrators filled roads ringing the capital's Victory Monument, waving Thai flags and cheering for speeches interspersed with live music. The crowd was mostly senior-aged and led by veteran activists of the "Yellow Shirt" movement -- which helped oust Paetongtarn's father Thaksin in the 2000s -- as well as one of his former allies now among his harshest critics. "I'm here to protect Thailand's sovereignty and to say the PM is unfit," said 70-year-old protester Seri Sawangmue, who travelled overnight by bus from the country's north to attend. "After I heard the leaked call, I knew I couldn't trust her," he told AFP. "I've lived through many political crises and I know where this is going. She's willing to give up our sovereignty." Thailand has seen decades of clashes between the bitterly-opposed "Yellow Shirts" who defend the monarchy and military and the "Red Shirts" backing Thaksin, who they consider a threat to Thailand's traditional social order. Jamnong Kalana, 64, said she was once a "Red Shirt" but had now changed her colours and was demanding Paetongtarn's resignation. "I feel full of pain when I see a fellow Thai who doesn't love the country like I do," she said. Authorities said more than 1,000 police and 100 city officials had been deployed for the event which remained peaceful early on Saturday afternoon. Paetongtarn was visiting Thailand's flood-hit north but before departing Bangkok she told reporters: "It's their right to protest, as long as it's peaceful". The prime minister has been battered by controversy and abandoned by her largest backer the Bhumjaithai Party after her phone call with Cambodia's ex-leader Hun Sen leaked earlier this month. Tensions between the countries have soared after a border dispute boiled over into violence last month which killed one Cambodia soldier. Next week, both Paetongtarn and her father face legal battles that could reshape Thailand's political landscape. On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to take up a petition by senators seeking her removal over alleged unprofessionalism. That same day, her father is set to stand trial on royal defamation charges linked to decade-old remarks to South Korean media. Paetongtarn took office less than a year ago after her predecessor was disqualified by a court order and her father returned from exile after 15 years. She is the fourth Shinawatra-linked figure to become prime minister following her father, aunt and uncle-in-law.
DW
6 hours ago
- DW
German government shows cracks over nuclear energy – DW – 06/28/2025
The economy minister attended a meeting of EU states using nuclear energy, even though Germany shut down its last reactor in 2023. The environment minister was quick to insist Germany will stick to its nuclear phaseout. It was only a relatively petty dispute over the organization of an EU event in Brussels. And yet, revealed how differently Economy Minister Katherina Reiche — of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) — and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider — of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) — think about renewable energy, climate protection and nuclear power. In mid-June, Reiche was looking for a way to spend the evening in Brussels after a long meeting with her EU counterparts. There were two options: a meeting with representatives from countries that want to continue to expand renewable energies, and a meeting with pro-nuclear states. Twelve of the 27 EU states operate nuclear power plants, with France having the highest proportion — 55 reactors. Reiche ultimately attended the meeting of these countries, even though the government of former Chancellor Angela Merkel moved to phase out nuclear energy after the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. Germany's last power plant went off the grid in spring 2023. The fact that Reiche nevertheless chose to attend the meeting with the nuclear countries angered her SPD colleague. Schneider is officially responsible for nuclear safety in Germany as the environment minister, including issues relating to the interim and final storage of nuclear waste. "We have decided to phase out nuclear power. This has also been accepted by society," Schneider said. Officially, Germany is focusing on transitioning to renewable energies, and a large proportion of its energy is now generated from wind or solar power. "There are no further commitments [to the nuclear industry], nor will there be any," said Schneider. The disagreement between the Economy Ministry and the Environment Ministry on nuclear energy issues was already apparent. At the end of May, Reiche said in Brussels that she was "open to all technologies" when it came to energy production. The specific trigger was a joint paper by the governments in Paris and Berlin, which stated that the energy policy in both countries would be implemented "based on climate neutrality, competitiveness and sovereignty." In other words, according to the wishes of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, all forms of energy are to be promoted in the EU as long as they are low-emission. In France, this applies above all to the many nuclear power plants. In fact, nuclear power plants emit little or no greenhouse gases during operation and are therefore considered climate-friendly by their proponents. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The dangers of the technology lie in controlling the nuclear chain reaction and the nuclear waste it produces, which remains radioactive for many thousands of years. According to the EU treaties, each member state has the right to choose its own energy mix. There is also likely to be more disagreement between Reiche and Schneider on the issue of new gas-fired power plants. Shortly after taking office, the CDU minister announced plans to build 20 new gas-fired power plants. The previous government had also announced new construction to compensate for the often-fluctuating supplies from solar and wind power — but not in such large numbers. This is also a cause for concern for Schneider, who is responsible for meeting Germany's climate targets. In mid-May, the German government's expert council on climate issues warned that the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045 must be backed up by a truly concrete plan from the government. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The economy and environment ministries have often clashed on issues of climate protection and energy policy. At the moment, the government's climate goals are being helped by the rather weak economy and the resulting lower production, especially in industry, according to the council. A member of the panel, Marc Oliver Bettzüge, director of the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne, told the newsmagazine : "At this point in time, it is not clear how the federal government intends to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2045." Building new gas-fired power plants is likely to make this plan even more difficult. Although gas-fired power plants emit less greenhouse gases than coal-fired ones, 20 new plants would jeopardize the climate you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
DW
17 hours ago
- DW
DR Congo, Rwanda sign US-brokered peace deal – DW – 06/27/2025
The two countries sealed a deal which could bring peace to the war-battered region of eastern DR Congo. US Secretary of State Rubio called the agreement "an important moment." The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace agreement brokered by the United States, aimed at ending decades of conflict and promote development in eastern Congo. The deal has provisions on territorial integrity, prohibition of hostilities and the disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of non-state armed groups. It also paves the way for the US government and American companies to gain access to critical minerals in the region. US President Donald Trump said he had brokered a deal for "one of the worst wars anyone has ever seen," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as "an important moment after 30 years of war." Congo's Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe signed the agreement, both expressing optimism while acknowledging that significant work remains to end the violence. "Some wounds will heal, but they will never fully disappear," said Wagner. Her Rwandan counterpart emphasized that shared growth and cooperation would "unlock tangible dividends" for both countries. More than 100 armed groups are believed to be active in eastern Congo, with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group being the most prominent. The group made major advances early this year and seized eastern Congo's two largest cities and lucrative mining areas However, M23 rebels have indicated that the agreement will not be binding on them. The conflict has displaced more than seven million people. The United Nations has described it as "one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
