Syrians arrive in Germany

The EU kept its side of the pact, with a group of 16 asylum seekers from Syria flying into Germany, which last year let in a record 1.1 million migrants.

A representative from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, who did not give her name, asked reporters to respect the privacy of the asylum seekers, who were members of three families.

"This is all very new, very difficult," she said. "They have been traveling for a very long time."

Several dozen other refugees are expected to arrive in France, Finland and Portugal, according to German government sources.

The huge influx of migrants into the EU is tugging at the bloc by the seams.

The deal clinched in March, driven by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is seen as a last-ditch effort to overcome the crisis.

Under the terms of the deal, all "irregular migrants" arriving since March 20 face being sent back, although the accord calls for each case to be examined individually.

For every Syrian refugee returned, another will be resettled from Turkey to the EU, with numbers capped at 72,000.

AFP - Reuters

 

 

(China Daily 04/05/2016 page11)