Migrant crisis: EU ministers to meet on relocation

EU justice and home affairs ministers meet on Monday in Brussels to consider the European Commission's relocation proposal for refugees a day after Germany announced plans to introduce border controls on its border with Austria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel informed European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker of the decision to reintroduce border controls in a phone call on Sunday. But the commission played down the significance of the move, stressing that Schengen rules permit countries to reintroduce temporary border controls in emergency circumstances.

As thousands of migrants continued to enter Germany over the weekend, vice- chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told a Sunday newspaper Germany "was reaching its limits." Approximately 12,200 migrants arrived in Munich, the main point of entry for refugees entering Germany, on Saturday, said officials. Amid reports that the Olympic stadium could be used as a temporary accommodation centre for refugees, tents were erected in the area near the train station. Mr Gabriel also called for a €1.5 billion aid package for refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan, urging the US and Gulf states to contribute.

Border checks

Trains to Germany from

Austria

stopped running at 5pm on Sunday and soon afterwards officials announced the temporary reinstatement of border checks suspended under the EU’s so-called Schengen system.

It was not immediately clear how German frontier controls would affect travel from Austria and the passage of ever-greater numbers of migrants through the region, or whether they could prompt similar moves from other EU states. Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, said: “Germany stands by its humanitarian responsibilities. But with the huge number of refugees, the burden must be shared with more solidarity.”

EU justice ministers gather amid continuing divisions about the proposal to introduce mandatory refugee quotas on member states. Significant opposition still remains in a number of central and eastern European countries to mandatory quotas. European council president Donald Tusk warned on Friday that he would schedule a leaders’ summit should progress not be made today.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald will present Ireland's offer to accept 2,900 refugees from Syria, Eritrea and Iraq at the council meeting.

The estimated cost to the exchequer of participation in the EU relocation plan will be €48 million.