Hollande, Merkel stressed migrant crisis needs EU solution
Dushanbe, 08.02.2016 (NIAT “Khovar”). — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande stressed on Sunday the migrant crisis, which brought more than a million people to the European Union last year, needs an EU-level solution.
According to Reuters, the two leaders were meeting in Strasbourg on the Franco-German border to discuss the agenda of the next European summit on Feb. 18-19. They had a private meeting before joining EU Parliament Chairman Martin Schulz for dinner.
Hollande and Merkel agreed the action plan defined by the European Commission was a priority, a source close to the French president said.
The plan involves assistance to Greece to control its borders, reinforcing its means to register refugees but also a fight against smugglers and the acceleration of procedures to expel illegal migrants.
It also includes a package for Turkey to help it curb the influx of migrants into Europe.
Separately, the two leaders also expressed a «strong common concern» about the situation in Syria, the French source said.