Germany to take 31,000 refugees, France 24,000 under EU plan

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BRUSSELS: Germany and France would take nearly half of the 120,000 refugees to be relocated from frontline states under a plan by European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, a European source said yesterday.

According to Juncker’s proposal for mandatory quotas for EU states which is set to be unveiled Wednesday, Germany would take 31,443 and France 24,031, to relieve the burden on Greece, Italy and Hungary, the source told AFP.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday the record refugee influx to Europe’s biggest economy will change the country, which was now seen by many abroad as a place of “hope”.

“What we are experiencing now is something that will occupy and change our country in coming years,” she said after 20,000 migrants arrived at the weekend alone.

“We want the change to be positive, and we believe we can accomplish that,” she added.

The ruling German coalition yesterday pledged an additional six billion euros in federal funds for migrants for 2016. — AFP