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Migrant crisis: Germany's Merkel says EU quotas are a 'first step' Migrant crisis: Germany's Merkel says EU quotas are a 'first step'
(about 2 hours later)
Mandatory quotas determining how many migrants each European Union country should take in are a "first step", German Chancellor Angela Merkel says.Mandatory quotas determining how many migrants each European Union country should take in are a "first step", German Chancellor Angela Merkel says.
She was speaking as the EU continues to grapple with a huge influx of migrants, which peaked at the weekend.She was speaking as the EU continues to grapple with a huge influx of migrants, which peaked at the weekend.
The European Commission is set to announce plans on Wednesday, including quotas, to distribute 120,000 migrants among member countries.The European Commission is set to announce plans on Wednesday, including quotas, to distribute 120,000 migrants among member countries.
Germany says it can cope with more in the future but wants the burden shared.Germany says it can cope with more in the future but wants the burden shared.
Mrs Merkel was speaking alongside the visiting Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven. Their countries have so far taken in the most asylum seekers. Mrs Merkel was speaking alongside the visiting Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven. Their countries have so far taken in the most Syrian asylum seekers.
Calling the European Commission's proposals "an important first step", Mrs Merkel added that the EU needed an open-ended "system to share out those with a right to asylum".Calling the European Commission's proposals "an important first step", Mrs Merkel added that the EU needed an open-ended "system to share out those with a right to asylum".
Divisions
Earlier, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Germany could cope with "at least 500,000 asylum seekers a year for several years".Earlier, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Germany could cope with "at least 500,000 asylum seekers a year for several years".
Germany, which has waived EU rules to welcome thousands of Syrian migrants, expects more than 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015 alone - four times the 2014 figure.Germany, which has waived EU rules to welcome thousands of Syrian migrants, expects more than 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015 alone - four times the 2014 figure.
Migrant crisis in pictures
The quotas issue has exposed deep divisions within the EU.The quotas issue has exposed deep divisions within the EU.
Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Romania have voiced reservations. Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Romania have voiced reservations. But on Tuesday, Poland appeared to soften its position, Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz saying the country would accept more migrants than the 2,000 it first offered.
Spain, too, has now said it will accept whatever number is proposed by the European Commission.
The quota system, to be announced by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, would allocate 60% of migrants now in Italy, Greece and Hungary to Germany, France and Spain, reports say.The quota system, to be announced by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, would allocate 60% of migrants now in Italy, Greece and Hungary to Germany, France and Spain, reports say.
The numbers distributed to each country would depend on GDP, population, unemployment rate and asylum applications already processed, AFP news agency reports.The numbers distributed to each country would depend on GDP, population, unemployment rate and asylum applications already processed, AFP news agency reports.
Countries refusing to take in migrants could face financial penalties.Countries refusing to take in migrants could face financial penalties.
The migrants, mainly Syrians, are engaged in a long trek that takes them from Turkey, across the sea to Greece, through Macedonia and Serbia, and then to Hungary from where they aim to reach Austria and Germany. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has meanwhile labelled the EU's approach to asylum seekers "dysfunctional".
"It is clear that this is a serious crisis, but for me it is also clear that if Europe would be properly organised, it would be a manageable crisis. We are talking about 4-5,000 people per day, in a union that has 508 million people".
What next for Germany's asylum seekers?What next for Germany's asylum seekers?
Peston: Why Germany needs migrants more than UKPeston: Why Germany needs migrants more than UK
What can the EU do to solve the crisis?What can the EU do to solve the crisis?
Nine key moments in crisisNine key moments in crisis
The other exodus to Germany - people from the BalkansThe other exodus to Germany - people from the Balkans
Are you affected by the crisis?Are you affected by the crisis?
The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, says a record 7,000 Syrian migrants arrived in Macedonia alone on Monday and 30,000 were on Greek islands. The migrants, mainly Syrians, are engaged in a long trek that takes them from Turkey, across the sea to Greece, through Macedonia and Serbia, and then to Hungary from where they aim to reach Austria and Germany.
The migrant influx has unsettled European governments and prompted diverse responses. Hungary's conservative leadership is building a border fence to try to keep them out, but German politicians have expressed pride in crowds who welcomed new arrivals. Hundreds continue to cross from Serbia into Hungary. There have been scuffles with police and a protest against being registered, with migrants chanting "no fingerprints".
A Greek minister said on Monday that the island of Lesbos, which sits off the Turkish coast, was "on the verge of an explosion" due to a build-up of 20,000 migrants. Several trains carrying migrants headed northwards through Macedonia from the border with Greece.
The UNHCR says a record 7,000 Syrian migrants arrived in Macedonia alone on Monday and 30,000 were on Greek islands.
A Greek minister has said that the island of Lesbos, which sits off the Turkish coast, was "on the verge of an explosion" due to a build-up of 20,000 migrants.
The government and UNHCR have brought in extra staff and ships to process them.The government and UNHCR have brought in extra staff and ships to process them.
The UNHCR meanwhile highlighted the growing scale of the challenge, releasing new figures that suggest it expects 400,000 migrants to arrive in Europe by sea in 2015.The UNHCR meanwhile highlighted the growing scale of the challenge, releasing new figures that suggest it expects 400,000 migrants to arrive in Europe by sea in 2015.
The majority are Syrian, and the UN says many are now seeking a better life in Europe because of poor conditions in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon - caused in part because of a drastic shortfall in multilateral aid programmes.The majority are Syrian, and the UN says many are now seeking a better life in Europe because of poor conditions in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon - caused in part because of a drastic shortfall in multilateral aid programmes.
The UN's special representative for migration, Peter Sutherland, said several wealthy countries, such as the US and Gulf states, had in fact been generous in contributing financially to help improve the lives of Syrians in countries neighbouring Syria.The UN's special representative for migration, Peter Sutherland, said several wealthy countries, such as the US and Gulf states, had in fact been generous in contributing financially to help improve the lives of Syrians in countries neighbouring Syria.
But this was no substitute for taking migrants in. "Buying your way out of this is not satisfactory," he said.But this was no substitute for taking migrants in. "Buying your way out of this is not satisfactory," he said.
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.
Are you in Germany? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you in Germany? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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