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Merkel expresses support for EU plans to strengthen border protection

Xinhua, December 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed on Wednesday her support for EU plans to better protect its external borders, ahead of an summit when leaders of the 28-nation bloc are to discuss ways to stem the massive influx of refugees.

Speaking in a statement to the German parliament, Merkel called for a consistent implementation of the decisions already made within the EU, including the establishment of "hotspots" in Italy and Greece, the redistribution of 160,000 refugees as well as measures for a better protection of the EU's external borders.

A consistent implementation of existing decisions, she noted, is an essential step to ensure a sustainable reduction in the number of refugees entering Europe.

The chancellor expressed support for the plans newly-proposed by the European Commission to better manage the EU's external borders, saying the proposals go in the "right direction" and she would work to ensure that they could be "discussed and adopted as soon as possible".

Besides, Merkel also reiterated her appeal for a fair distribution of refugees among EU member states and the importance of cooperating with Turkey on the refugee issue. Enditem