EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY COALITION ARRIVALS Germany frees up funds for refugees, speeds up asylum procedures
Record ID:
141720
EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY COALITION ARRIVALS Germany frees up funds for refugees, speeds up asylum procedures
- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY COALITION ARRIVALS Germany frees up funds for refugees, speeds up asylum procedures
- Date: 7th September 2015
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 6, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR CHANCELLORY GERMAN AND EU FLAG MEDIA OUTSIDE CHANCELLORY CAR CARRYING GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL ARRIVING MEDIA CAR CARRYING GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE ARRIVING VARIOUS OF BAVARIAN STATE PRIME MINISTER AND HEAD OF CHRISTIAN SOCIALIST PARTY (CSU), HORST SEEHOFER, EXITING CAR AND WALKING INTO BUILDING GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE EXITING CAR AND WALKING INTO BUILDING DE MAIZIERE WALKING INTO BUILDING TELEVISION TOWER CAR CARRYING GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER ARRIVING STEINMEIER EXITING CAR AND WALKING INTO BUILDING CAR CARRYING GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRAT'S (SPD) PARLIAMENTARY FLOOR LEADER, THOMAS OPPERMANN, ARRIVING OPPERMANN EXITING CAR AND WALKING INTO BUILDING MEDIA GERMAN DEPUTY CHANCELLOR AND HEAD OF SPD, SIGMAR GABRIEL, EXITING CAR AND WALKING INTO BUILDING, FOLLOWED BY MAYOR OF HAMBURG, OLAF SCHOLZ EXTERIOR CHANCELLORY
- Embargoed: 22nd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAB5PGDHS8IUTKGGF1C4UBA0RVK
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE UPDATED THIS SCRIPT WITH THE RESULTS OF THE COALITION MEETING
The German government decided to free up additional three billion euros ($3.35 billion) for federal states and municipalities to help cope with this year's record influx of refugees and migrants, a joint statement by the ruling coalition issued on Monday (September 7) said.
At a high-level meeting that lasted more than five hours, leaders from Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition also agreed on a series of other measures, such as speeding up asylum procedures and facilitating the construction of asylum shelters.
In addition to the three billion euros for states and municipalities, the government is planning to free up an additional three billion euros to fund its own expenses, such as paying benefits for asylum seekers, the joint statement said.
The agreement included widening the list of countries deemed "safe", meaning their citizens generally have no claim to asylum, to include Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro. Among those already in that category are Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia.
The aim is to speed up asylum and extradition procedures for migrants from southeastern Europe, in order to focus on refugees from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The coalition meeting came at the end of a weekend that saw 18,000 refugees entering the country after Germany and Austria had agreed with Hungary to waive rules requiring refugees to register an asylum claim in the first EU country they reach.
Merkel's decision to allow thousands of refugees stranded in Hungary to find a new home in Germany has caused a rift within her conservative bloc with her Bavarian allies accusing her of sending a "totally wrong signal.
Germany expects a record influx of 800,000 migrants and refugees this year, by far the most in the European Union. In August alone, more than 100,000 asylum seekers were registered in Europe's largest economy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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