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Europe closes its door to Syrian refugees

Posted November. 13, 2015 19:57,   

한국어

European countries including Germany, Sweden, and Denmark that used to gladly accept refugees have presented plan to stop the influx, according to international media including Newsweek on Wednesday. The news outlets added that even Germany, the strongest economy in Europe that used to accommodate refugees unconditionally, is also closing its door to them.

German Ministry of the Interior in charge of refugee policies announced on Tuesday that Germany would apply the Dublin Regulation to all refugees. This regulation that took effect in 1997 stipulates that all refugees arriving in the E.U. should be registered in the first E.U. country they arrive. That means if refugees wish to go to Germany via Hungary should be registered in Hungary first.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere stated on Tuesday, "Most of refugees whose registration is rejected will be repatriated compulsorily. Also, we will not allow those registered to bring their family with them." The German government has applied the Dublin Regulation to Syria refugees since Oct. 21, according to Deutschen Presse-Agentur.

Germany reserved its decision on applying the regulation to the Syrian refugees from Aug. 21 when the refugee situation became serious. However, it eventually changed its mind because of economical and social burdens. The Ifo Institute, a Munich-based not-for-profit economic research group, analyzed, "Germany has to spend 21.1 billion euros (approximately 26.4 trillion won) this year alone for refugee care. This estimate is more than double this year`s budget (10 billion euros) that the government appropriated. The German government initially estimated the number of refugees this year to be 800,000, but the number is now calculated more likely to be 1.1 million.

Sweden has changed its position as well. Agence France-Presse reported that Sweden had highest refugee acceptance as a percentage of population and now would step up the inspection and passport control at the border. Sweden has population of 9.8 million and accepted around 190,000 refugees this year.

Denmark also announced on Wednesday its refugee influx control policies. The nation will strengthen migration controls, cut down refugee subsidy, and send back illegal migrants swiftly. Recently, Norway sent Syrian refugees via Russia back to their country.

The Eastern European countries did not support accepting refugees and now they are more resolute. Slovenia started on Wednesday setting up 80 kilometers long wire entanglement where the most influx is made on its borderline with Croatia, which is 670 kilometers long.



dew@donga.com