Germany, Spain call for uniform EU asylum policy

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Tuesday declared themselves in favor of a uniform EU asylum policy.

The two leaders told a joint press conference in Berlin that the influx of refugees in Europe had reached a new dimension. Thousands of refugees have reportedly arrived in Austria and Germany via trains from Hungary since Monday.

Merkel told reporters on Tuesday that it did not help to accuse each other in the current situation.

Merkel urged a definition of safe countries of origin by the European Commission and the establishment of joint registration centers in Greece and Italy.

The chancellor renewed her call for a fair distribution of asylum seekers, aligned with the economic strength and the capacity of each member state of the EU.

Those who don't have the right to stay should be returned to their homeland, said Merkel.

For his part, Rajoy said the refugee crisis would become the biggest challenge for Europe in the coming years. He noted that the issue could not be solved without a common European refugee and asylum policy.

The Spanish prime minister expressed support for Germany's proposals in the EU regarding the influx of refugees, saying his country is ready to take in around 2,700 refugees.

In addition, Rajoy has called for readmission agreements with those countries from which migrants come to the EU for economic reasons. Endit