Germany sends Syrian refugees back to first EU countries they arrived: report
Xinhua, November 11, 2015 Adjust font size:
The German government confirmed on Tuesday that it has reapplied to Syrians a regulation which requires refugees to register at the first European Union member state they arrived, according to media report.
The Dublin Regulation has been reapplied to Syrians "since October 21, reported German dpa news agency, citing a spokesman from German Interior Ministry.
Under the regulation, refugees must apply for asylum in the first EU country they arrive. If they don't, they could be sent back from other EU countries to the one they first enter.
On August 25, Germany suspended the regulation for Syrians as Europe border countries were overburdened by suddenly surging refugees, most of them from Syria.
The country has received millions of refugees since then, which has caused criticism from local authorities who found themselves lack of money and places to accommodate the newcomers.
The German government expects to receive 800,000 refugees this year, but think tanks and media estimate that over one million will arrive.
Ifo economic institute estimated on Tuesday that 1.1 million refugees will have entered Germany by the end of 2015, costing the country 21.1 billion euros (about 22.6 billion U.S. dollars). Endit