Germany decides to take an extra 50 refugees from Malta

Germany will take another 50 refugees, increasing the total to 150, because it feels Malta is heavily burdened. The German government was following a recommendation made by the EU Council that member states should help as the flow of sub-Saharan...

Germany will take another 50 refugees, increasing the total to 150, because it feels Malta is heavily burdened.

The German government was following a recommendation made by the EU Council that member states should help as the flow of sub-Saharan refugees from Libya increased.

“The German government considers that, for specific reasons – size, population, geographical location – Malta is heavily burdened”, the German Embassy said.

It said it was confident that, with the assistance of the Maltese authorities and the International Organisation for Migration, all 150 refugees could leave Malta this summer.

Germany’s decision comes in the light of comments made by European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom who, on Wednesday, admitted there was a lukewarm reaction from member states who were not enthustiastic about burden sharing.

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