Migrant arrivals fall for second year in a row
The number of new asylum seekers in Germany has fallen for a second year in a row following the mass influx that peaked in 2015, the government said Sunday.
Recommended articles
For all of 2017, "I presume a total of fewer than 200,000 migrants," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere was quoted as saying by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
The EU's top economy has taken in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015, around half from conflict-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, in a mass intake that sparked a xenophobic backlash.
The total for 2015 reached 890,000, but arrivals slowed sharply after several Balkans transit countries shuttered their borders and the EU in March 2016 reached a deal with Turkey to stop crossings to the Greek islands.
ADVERTISEMENT
Arrivals of new asylum seekers to Germany fell back to around 280,000 in 2016.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under strong pressure for her liberal immigration policy, and her Bavarian allies the CSU have long pushed for a maximum intake of 200,000 refugees a year.
Merkel has agreed to the figure but labelled it a "benchmark" rather than an iron-cast maximum.
De Maiziere said that by late November this year, the number of new asylum seekers in Germany stood at around 173,000.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Fresh reaction trails court's reinstatement of Ganduje as APC chair
The unveiling of a refreshed Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Lagos
Kia driver who caused accident involving Ghana’s new train reports himself to Police
FG seeks German government cooperation to reform Nigeria Police
Inside story of how Ghana’s new train got involved in accident on a test run
Petrol price stands at ₦696.79 in March – Report
Iran threatens to trigger powerful missiles should Israel attack its nuke sites
Diesel price stands at ₦1341.16 in March 2024 – Report
FCCPC seals 4U supermarket in Abuja for concealing price information
Pulse Sports
Lionel Messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for Inter Miami
Naija Stars Abroad: Onyedika, Boniface, and Osimhen shine across Europe
Victor Osimhen and Tobi Amusan make list of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Class of 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
