Merkel migrant deal hangs in the balance

A migrant policy deal struck by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to save her government ran into a snag on Tuesday when her Social Democrat coalition partners withheld their immediate consent, saying they needed to scrutinise the compromise.

However, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker responded positively to the plan, which needs the backing of fellow EU states if it is to succeed.

Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their long-time Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) allies agreed on Monday to set up special transit zones at the border with Austria where migrants already registered in other EU countries will be held. They would then be sent back to the countries where they had registered first.

The plan appeared to settle a dispute between the two conservative parties that had threatened Merkel’s three-month-old government.

Merkel needs not only backing from the Social Democrats, who rejected a similar plan three years ago, but EU states must also agree to take migrants back.

Social Democrat leader Andrea Nahles said the plan was worthless without bilateral deals with countries such as Italy and Austria. “We have many open questions,” said Nahles, whose lawmakers are discussing the deal on Tuesday. Securing the consent of other EU countries was crucial, she said, adding: “That’s why I consider the deal for now as an uncovered cheque.”

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