Migrant crisis: Germany to release funds to help regions cope

BBC.COM | Monday September 7, 2015 09:00

An estimated 18,000 migrants reached Germany over the weekend

Critics at home have accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of creating a dangerous precedent by opening Germany's borders.

About 18,000 migrants arrived over the weekend after an agreement with Austria and Hungary to relax asylum rules.

But Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann has said the emergency measures must come to an end.

He said they would move step by step 'towards normality', after speaking to Chancellor Merkel and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday.

Hungary had previously blocked migrants travelling to Western Europe, but dropped restrictions on Friday and shuttled people to the Austrian border.

At Hungary's border with Serbia construction work continues on the border fence, as people continue to stream across the border, unchallenged by police, the BBC's James Shaw reports.

Meanwhile migrants are continuing to arrive at Munich station.

Critics at home have accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of creating a dangerous precedent by opening Germany's borders.About 18,000 migrants arrived over the weekend after an agreement with Austria and Hungary to relax asylum rules.But Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann has said the emergency measures must come to an end.

He said they would move step by step 'towards normality', after speaking to Chancellor Merkel and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday.Hungary had previously blocked migrants travelling to Western Europe, but dropped restrictions on Friday and shuttled people to the Austrian border.

At Hungary's border with Serbia construction work continues on the border fence, as people continue to stream across the border, unchallenged by police, the BBC's James Shaw reports.Meanwhile migrants are continuing to arrive at Munich station.

Germany's announcement of extra funds came after talks on Sunday night between the two parties which make up Chancellor Merkel's coalition.

The government has agreed to give €3bn ($3.3bn; £2.2bn) to the federal states and local councils, with a further €3bn to fund federal programmes such as benefit payments.

What is the UK doing to help?

Germany expects to receive 800,000 refugees and migrants this year, and wants to see the rest of Europe do more to help.

But while Mrs Merkel has become a hero to many migrants and their supporters, conservative allies said she sent a 'totally wrong signal' by allowing in the intake from Hungary.

The interior ministry said the decision was an exception to help avert a humanitarian crisis.

New arrivals in Germany were welcomed by smiling and cheering members of the public at train stations across the country.

On Sunday, a group of cars driven by German and Austrian activists travelled to the Hungarian border to pick up migrants and distribute food.

The migrants had travelled north through the Balkans - Greece, Macedonia and Serbia - before arriving at Hungary's southern border, and on to Austria and Germany.

Syrians are the largest group travelling, followed by Afghans and Eritreans.

A rift has developed within the EU over how to deal with the crisis.

Hungary has accused Germany of encouraging the influx, and is pressing ahead with plans to tighten border controls and could send troops to its southern frontier if parliament agrees.

It has opened a new reception camp for migrants in southern border village of Roszke, and is due to finish its border fence this month.

The UN's Refugee Chief Antonio Guterres said the crisis was 'manageable' if member states could agree a joint plan.

Source: BBC.COM