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Merkel urges fair distribution of refugees in Europe

Xinhua, June 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called on all EU member states to show solidarity over migration issue and participate in a fair distribution of refugees in Europe.

Merkel made the remarks while addressing the German parliament ahead of the European Council meeting on June 25-26, which will also focus on the European migration policy.

"By far the most pressing task is to improve rescue operations," said Merkel. She praised expressly the efforts of the German navy, which has helped rescue around 4,000 people in distress at sea within a few weeks.

Besides rescue tasks, the chancellor noted, the EU member states should also show solidarity in receiving refugees. She called upon all members to participate in a fair distribution of refugees in Europe.

"It should not be the case that three-quarters of all asylum seekers are taken up by only 5 EU member states. Solidarity and responsibility must go hand in hand," Merkel told lawmakers.

She called for "equivalent EU-wide standards" for dealing with refugees and asylum seekers, saying all member states must implement and apply the common European asylum system equivalently.

In addition, the chancellor stressed the need to fight human trafficking as well as the causes of people fleeing and being displaced.

She expressed in this regard willingness of her country to cooperate with "countries of origin and transit countries" to seek approaches for improving local living conditions. Endit