The traffic light coalition is not the first federal government to be overwhelmed with the design and management of migration. This is even understandable, because there are no patent solutions for the phenomenon in all its shades. However, the history, course and consequences of the "migration summit" in the Chancellery show that this government is even less able than its predecessors to get involved with reality.
The result, one billion euros more for the needs of states and municipalities, could only be justified as sufficient if the Scholz government were able to do what all federal governments have felt compelled to do for more than thirty years, namely to drastically reduce influx. So far, there have been many announcements for this, but no results. In view of green concerns, it is questionable whether they will ever exist.
For a second reason, the sum has little to do with the reality on the ground. Before the meeting, the German government claimed that it was already paying more than enough. In doing so, she wanted to push down the demands that were brought to her from the countries. This went so far that cost sharing was embellished. An example: The assumption of the citizen's allowance for Ukrainian refugees by the federal government does not mean, as was suggested by the cabinet, that the municipalities are free of burdens here.
Such trickery has forgotten that the true costs of failing to provide serious funding for German migration policy lie elsewhere. Integration through language, schools, housing or work is no longer an option in many communities. All the Berlin incantations in this direction are far removed from everyday experience.
It is true what Olaf Scholz said about the postponement of fundamental decisions until autumn (!): Times are different. In this case, however, the turning point did not just take place a year ago, but decades ago.