Schleswig-Holstein government unanimously recognizes Roma and Sinti

Roma immigrants protest in front of German parliament, demanding equal rights for German Roma.
(Image courtesy of Der Spiegel Online)

Yesterday, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein unanimously voted to grant Roma and Sinti ethnic minorities protection under the state constitution. German government officers are recognizing this legislative passage as a historic moment because, in previous years, the Christian Democratic Union shot down the measure. After much criticism within the government and from outside organizations, the CDU agreed to vote for the protection of these peoples when it resurfaced on the ballot. With the CDU for the bill, the vote to protect Sinti and Roma became unanimous.

Sinti and Roma have been protected by Germany's federal government since 1995. This passage, however, is completely new in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Many Sinti and Roma emigrated to Western Europe from the Balkans, particularly from Macedonia and Serbia. One Roma spokesperson reported that many are leaving Eastern Europe to receive better federal care. Upon applying for asylum, a person could receive as much as €360 per month during the application process. Thus, the migration of Roma and Sinti to Germany has been labelled an economic migration. Because of this title, Christian Social Union member Michael Hartmann is urging German lawmakers to initiate a reform of the country's policies regarding immigration, particularly for economic reasons.

In the United States, immigration is a constant issue of contention. Especially in Southwest border states such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, the immigrants from Mexico tend to be treated as a nuisance to the country. Like the German Roma and Sinti groups, Latin Americans seem to be migrating for economic opportunities.

Despite these admirable causes, the U.S. federal government and state governments are still trying to crack down on border control and deal with immigrants who have come here illegally. It is currently being debated whether to grant recent illegal immigrants resident status and to then to tighten security around the border.

How would you propose immigration be dealt with in the U.S.? Is Germany's choice to grant asylum a good model with which to work? Would this protection be granted in the U.S.? Why or why not?

Germany and the Eurozone

The New York Times recently started a discussion about whether or not Germany should stay in the Eurozone. This discussion prompted questions of whether or not it was beneficial to Germany's growing economy to stay in the Eurozone.
    Charles Dumas, chairman of Lombard Street Research, said that by staying in the Eurozone Germany was weakening its economy and undervaluing its labor. In contrast Astrides N. Hatzis, an associate professor of law and economics at the University of Athens, pointed out the costs of Germany leaving the Eurozone, such as having the devalued euro provide competition for an overvalued deutsche mark. He also points out that Germany will lose financial and political investments if they leave. Finally, Stephan Homburg, a professor at Leibniz University, thinks Germany should leave because the legal framework of Europe's common currency has been corrupted, it is costly to stick with the euro, and staying with common currency will poison Europe's political atmosphere even more. 
   I found it really interesting to look at the different views on this subject as well as where the people writing were from. It seems to me like place of origin has a large influence on whether or not one thinks Germany should stay in the Eurozone. 
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/11/12/should-germany-leave-the-euro-zone/germany-should-leave-the-euro-zone

European Leaders React to Obama's Re-Election

In light of Tuesday's election I thought I'd post a gallery of quotes from European leaders about Obama's Re-election. Most European leaders were pleased with Obama's Re-election, saying that he shared many of the same foreign policy values as Europe and had more similar ideals than a right wing president would have. 

Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she is pleased that Germany and the U.S. can continue to work together and overcome foreign and economic challenges as friends and allies. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that the U.S. and the EU had much more that unites them than what separates them. 

   

German President Joachim Gauck also said that the U.S. and Germany were "charged with taking on the global challenges and threats to freedom, peace, prosperity and threats to our environment." This quote is particularly interesting because it highlights Germany's concern with the environment, particularly climate change, and their continued pressure on the U.S. to take more action in terms of the environment.