EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY GABRIEL Germany says EU states must face pressure to take refugees

Record ID: 141057

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY GABRIEL Germany says EU states must face pressure to take refugees
  • Date: 15th September 2015
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 15, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF GERMAN PARLIAMENT SPD (SOCIAL DEMOCRATS) SIGN SPD PARTY LEADER, GERMAN VICE CHANCELLOR AND ECONOMY MINISTER, SIGMAR GABRIEL, WALKING PAST TO MICROPHONES WITH SPD FLOOR LEADER THOMAS OPPERMANN JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN VICE CHANCELLOR AND ECONOMY MINISTER, SIGMAR GABRIEL, SAYING: "I fully support the idea of making clear to the Europeans that Europe as a whole is at stake. What we are experiencing right now threatens Europe much more than the Greek (financial) crisis. It's also clear that if we don't come to an agreement, Europe's medium-range financial planning is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Germany won't be ready to act as Europe's paymaster: everybody participates if they get money, but nobody is participating when it's about taking on responsibility. That's the end of the current financing basis if this continues." GABRIEL WALKING OFF
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4LXK2HRSTIFC37E8LURRA634O
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The European Union must consider putting financial pressure on member states that are reluctant to take in their share of asylum seekers as the bloc faces its worst refugee crisis in decades, Germany's vice chancellor said on Tuesday (September 15).
    In a veiled threat to eastern European states that have resisted EU plans on sharing refugees, Sigmar Gabriel said:
    "Germany won't be ready to act as Europe's paymaster: everybody participates if they get money, but nobody is participating when it's about taking on responsibility. That's the end of the current financing basis if this continues."
    He echoed similar remarks made by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere to German state TV earlier in the day.
    After opening its doors to refugees from Syria's civil war, Germany at the weekend temporarily reimposed border controls, causing other countries along the refugees' march northwards through Europe to do the same and casting into doubt the EU's Schengen system of passport-free travel within the bloc.
    Police said more than 4,500 asylum seekers reached Germany by train on Monday (September 14) despite the imposition of new controls at the border with Austria.
    The arrivals brought the number of asylum seekers who have entered Germany by train since the start of the month to nearly 92,000.
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