-OpEd-

BERLIN — German authorities are now trying in every possible way to come up with solutions for sheltering the wave of refugees entering our country. But that has somehow led the state to threaten the suspension basic rights of property and ownership.

The federal government does its best to foster optimism. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and her Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, insist that the challenges that come with the wave of refugees can be met. One can imagine that Merkel is not only thinking of public institutions, but also humanitarian organizations such as the Red Cross, as well as the commitment of individual volunteers.

But today it has gone beyond that, and ordinary German citizens and their rights are paying the price. Struggling to cope with how to handle and house the influx of refugees, the state now threatens to suspend the right of ownership.

All over Germany, your property risks being confiscated, due to what is known by zoning law as "Communities' personal requirements." In some case, authorities can justify their action by referring to public safety.

Once again, the state imposes solutions to problems caused by its own negligent action. The German taxpayer already had to save misguided regional banks and save Greece from default. Now it's about the accommodation of refugees.

The government apparently considers it normal not only to dispose of their own responsibility, but to place the burden on German citizens and companies to solve public problems.

Some have compared the situation to emergency laws and compulsory accommodation of refugees after World War II. But back then, the situation was clearly different, facing direct consequences of a catastrophe, triggered by Germany itself.

Today, citizens, property owners and renters are asked to take the responsibility for the failures of other European Union countries and the disregard of the Dublin Regulation. No, this is a very different situation indeed.