Germany's ruling coalition reaches compromise deal on asylum laws

Leaders of Germany's ruling coalition struck a compromise on changes to asylum laws on Thursday, especially concerning family reunion for refugees, said German Deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

"Asylum Package II now stands and can go through to the cabinet very quickly," Gabriel, head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), told media after consultations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Horst Seehofer, party leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU).

Asylum Package I was struck last year, as Germany responded to the new arrivals from the Middle East and Africa. That package came into force on November 1.

According the compromise deal reached on Thursday, a waiting-period of two years would be introduced in the future for families seeking to join people who get so-called "subsidiary protection" in Germany.

"Subsidiary protection" means a refugee has no claim to asylum, but cannot go back to his homeland because of life-threatening conditions. People with the limited status get a residence permit only for one year initially, which can be extended later.

The issue related to "subsidiary protection" had been a point of contention among members of the ruling coalition for a long time.

Coalition leaders have also agreed to improve the situation concerning vocational training for refugees. People who get trained in Germany, according to Gabriel, would be allowed to work for two years in the country after the training, regardless of their status.

In addition, other new regulations under discussions on Thursday included designating Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria as "safe countries of origin," as well as the construction of special reception centers where applications for asylum could be processed much faster. Endit