Berlin eases asylum rules for Syrians as migrants pour into EU

Germany on Aug. 25 said it had eased asylum rules for Syrians in a move expected to relieve pressure on southern European nations as thousands more migrants pour into the bloc.

Record numbers of people are streaming into EU member Hungary from Serbia, posing a new headache for regional leaders who will meet this week at a summit to be dominated by Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II.
   
As criticism mounts over the bloc's response to the crisis, Germany said it has stopped returning Syrian asylum-seekers to their first EU port of entry, becoming the first member state to effectively simplify the application process for those fleeing the brutal civil war.
   
"Simply put, Europe is in a situation that is not worthy of Europe," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, calling for a "dialogue with the people" on how to redistribute the refugees fairly within the EU.
   
Natasha Bertaud, spokeswoman for the EU Commission, said Germany's move was "recognition of the fact that we cannot leave the member states at the external borders alone in dealing with a large number of asylum seekers seeking refuge in Europe."     

Under the so-called Dublin rules, the first EU country where an asylum-seeker arrives is usually required to process the claimant's application.
   
In practice, this means countries on the EU's borders like Greece or Italy are overwhelmed with applications as thousands arrive on their shores after a dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
   
Hungary, another country on the edge of the EU, is rushing to build a vast razor-wire barrier to keep migrants out.
   
The European Commission said it stood ready to provide Hungary with emergency EU facilities as Budapest struggles to cope with the record numbers.
   
Almost 2,100 people, the highest ever daily total, crossed into Hungary on Aug. 24 near the town of Roszke, one of the few sections of the border not yet sealed off by the fence.
   
They were among 7,000 refugees whose gruelling journey to the EU was temporarily blocked last week when FYROM (***) declared a state of emergency and shut its borders for three days to halt the huge influx...etc
 AFP
 hurriyetdailynews.com
26/8/15
***[After the necessary correction with the name "FYROM"]

***[GREECE recognized this country with the name "FYROM"]
***[UN  resolution A/RES/47/225 of 8 April 1993] 

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 Related:

• Czech Vice PM Calls for Closing External Borders of Shengen

• Merkel to visit protest-hit refugee home

• FYROM allows ‘limited number’ of migrants to cross border from Greece. (Assurances that the border will not be closed in the future)

• Serbian leader criticizes Hungary for migrant border fence

• Germany expects 800,000 asylum seekers

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