Bundestag adopted an agreement with the Polish Benefits for work in … – Virtual Poland

The Bundestag ratified the Polish-German agreement on German benefits for their work in the ghettos during the war for people living in Poland. Due to the place of residence, they were so far excluded from such benefits.
 

The ratification bill voted unanimously supported all parliamentary clubs – both government coalition of CDU / CSU and the SPD and the opposition – Left (Die Linke) and the Greens. MPs of all factions accepted by acclamation law – no one voted against, no one abstained. – This is an important signal not only for the people who survived the nightmare of the ghetto, but also a good signal for the cooperation with the Polish – said after the vote, Vice-President of the Parliament chairing the Meeting Edelgard Bulmahn (SPD).

– The agreement is a milestone in the struggle of survivors of the Holocaust, for justice and dignity – said during the debate in Parliament MEP Left (Die Linke) Azize Tank, one of the initiators of the project. The decision of parliament “puts an end to discrimination against Roma and Jews living in Poland”, previously excluded from the German benefits – emphasized Tank, a spokeswoman for his club. Human rights.
 

– It is unfortunate that the victim had to wait so long – she said Kerstin Griese with the SPD. Social Democrat expressed the hope that the provision “although some needed life easier.” Peter Weiss of the club of the CDU / CSU Bundestag took the decision as “favorable step towards settlements with the past.”

The agreement on the export of special benefits for people living in Poland, which performed work in the ghetto, signed by representatives of the Polish labor ministries and Germany on December 5. With the labor ministry estimates that the benefits may take several hundred people – from 400 to 500.
 

– This is a very advantageous solution for Polish citizens – said Deputy Minister of Labour Marek Bucior participating as guest of honor at the meeting of the Bundestag. – Do not we reduce any benefits that our citizens deserve the title of repression, because all of these people have the power to veterans in Poland, but also gives them the provision of German – he explained.
 

Tank stressed that the solution to the problem would not be possible without the cooperation with Polish organizations – the Association of Children of the Holocaust and Jewish Veterans Association, as well as historians and lawyers.
 

A German court for Social Affairs held for the first time in 1997, former employees of the right to a pension ghettos. Adopted in 2002 by the Bundestag, however, the law has created a lot of bureaucratic barriers to obtaining benefits. The courts rejected 90 percent. submission of applications.
 

The victims living in Poland were completely excluded from the group of beneficiaries. German authorities have relied on the signed in 1975 by Poland and the German social insurance agreement. The German side argued that the agreement prevents the transfer of pension from Germany to Polish, and those living in Poland should receive benefits from the Polish Social Insurance Institution.
 

In 2009, the Federal Social Court, under pressure from public opinion liberalized the criteria for the granting of pensions ghetto, so 24 thousand. persons previously missed, allowances. The caveat, however, retains the power that they are not entitled to the victims zameldowanym in Poland. Only the intervention of the Left led to a decision by the government in Berlin – parallel to the work on the amendment of the Act of 2002 – negotiations with Polish and sign a new contract.
 

The provisions amended in June this year by the Bundestag include a range of facilities for victims. A colleague Ms Tank, Kamil Majchrzak, said that the benefits can be inherited by the heirs of those working in the war in the ghettos. Considered to be the conclusions people during the German occupation, have at least three years.
 

Bucior assured that Poland will do everything to an agreement as soon as possible entered into force. In mid-March has hit the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament, and after obtaining the opinion of this committee – to the president. – Due to the age of the victims want to minimize the time of ratification – he said.

Bundestag adopted an agreement with the Polish Benefits for work in … – Virtual Poland