Latest news with #AnnalenaBaerbock
Local Germany
2 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
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
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Germany to cut funds for Mediterranean migrant rescues, sparking outcry
BERLIN, June 26 — Germany's conservative-led government will stop funding groups that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, a foreign ministry source said Wednesday, prompting opposition parties to warn that the decision could worsen a 'humanitarian crisis'. 'The federal government does not plan to provide further financial support to non-governmental organisations involved in civilian sea rescue,' the source told AFP. 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, often in rickety boats. 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. In 2024, the German government provided €2 million (RM9.9 million) in funding to organisations including SOS Humanity and SOS Mediterranee for conducting rescues of migrants who ran into trouble in the Mediterranean, the ministry source said. In the first quarter of this year, sea rescue NGOs received about €900,000 in government funding, it said. 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 saved lives. Now we might have to remain in port despite emergencies at sea,' he said. — AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany to stop funding Mediterranean sea migrant rescues - International
Germany's conservative-led government will stop funding groups that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, a foreign ministry source said Wednesday, prompting opposition parties to warn that the decision could worsen a "humanitarian crisis". 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 für Germany (AfD) party. 'Catastrophic signal' 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. Gordon 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. "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. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UN Security Council to meet on Iran as Israel promises further strikes
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene following Israel's strikes on Iran, prompting a request from Iran's Foreign Minister for the meeting. Israel's U.N. envoy declared the military operation would persist until Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated. Iran asserts its right to self-defense and vows a decisive response, accusing Israel of aggression and war crimes. Annalena Baerbock of Germany addresses the United Nations General Assembly after she was elected as president of the 80th session of the body, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The United Nations Security Council will meet later on Friday over Israel's strikes on Iran as Israel's U.N. envoy said the military operation would continue until Iran's nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile operation were Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the council meeting in a letter to the 15-member body, saying Israel "has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished.""Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts," Araghchi 51 of the U.N. Charter covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defense against armed launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran building an atomic weapon."We don't know how long it will take," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters. "We will continue to act until we will know that we eliminated the threats.""The goals of our operation are very clear - to make sure that Iran will not have nuclear capabilities and to stop the ballistic missile operation," he said. "I will explain to the council... and I expect the Security Council to understand."Araghchi, in his letter to the Security Council, said Israel had not only violated Iran's sovereignty, but also committed " acts of aggression and war crimes."
Qatar Tribune
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikha Alya meets president-elect of 80th UN General Assembly
NEW YORK: Permanent Representativeof the State of Qatarto the United Nations HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani has met with HE Annalena Baerbock, President-elect of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Qatar in New York. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed joint priorities for the State of Qatar and the United Nations within the framework of the upcoming General Assembly session. They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges. Sheikha Alya reaffirmed Qatar's continued commitment to actively supporting UN initiatives, with the aim of contributing to the success of the 80th session of the General Assembly. For her part, Baerbock expressed appreciation for Qatar's prominent role in supporting United Nations efforts, particularly in promoting international peace and security and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
