Germany scrambled today to quell a wave of anti-migrant violence, as a suspected arson attack hit a planned refugee shelter just hours after Chancellor Angela Merkel denounced xenophobic protests as “vile”.
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These centers must be made rapidly, by the end of the year. “The current strength of exports stems from those to the 28 countries of the EU”, a ministry spokesman said.
As Europe struggles with an influx of refugees fleeing war in countries such as Syria and Iraq, German politicians are anxious about the financial and social effects on their country, the EU’s biggest recipient of refugees. “We’re talking specifically about the registration of migrants, about minimum standards of accommodation and minimum standards of health care”.
Germany, which expects to receive 800,000 asylum-seekers this year, a record number and four times more than in 2014, has protested the Dublin rules before, saying they are abused by other EU member states to avoid taking in migrants and refugees.
“My impression is that if everybody does his part, China will make its own contribution too for the continuation of economic growth, and has done so during the eurozone crisis”.
In the Balkans, there were scuffles yesterday between Macedonian police and migrants on the Greek border, as officers let through a trickle of people heading north to Hungary, a member of the Schengen free movement area and a major point of entry to the EU.
Syrian refugees wait near the border railway station of Idomeni, northern Greece, in order to be allowed by the Macedonian police to cross the border from Greece to Macedonia, Tuesday, August 25, 2015.
EU Foreign Policy chief Frederica Mogherini says assigning blame isn’t helpful. “The point is how do we face together the challenge and how do we manage together the issue?”
Violent protests against refugees have already taken place in the east of Germany.
She plans to meet with refugees in the newly-opened shelter and hold town hall meetings with volunteers and security forces, her office said.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent outbursts”, Merkel said.
On Monday evening, Merkel described the climate of racism as unacceptable. It’s repulsive to see how right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis are voicing their hatred. “But it’s just as shameful the way citizens, and even families with children, support these things through collaboration”.
Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine agreed to respect the cease-fire and withdraw heavy weaponry while Kiev agreed on political measures, including local elections, that are aimed at increasing local autonomy and restoring Ukrainian sovereignty in separatist-occupied territories.
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Last week Germany nearly doubled its asylum seeker forecast for 2015 to 800,000; attacks on shelters have also doubled in frequency to 200 since January.
