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WORLD NEWS Thursday 18 January 2018

German, Austrian chancellors stress need to secure EU border

By DAVID RISING the migration question is in
Associated Press the orderly protection of
BERLIN (AP) — The chancel- exterior borders.”
lors of Germany and Austria He added that in his view
glossed over differences Austria had already made
on migration Wednesday, a “disproportional contri-
seeking instead to focus bution” in the refugee crisis,
on the need to secure the and that the European dis-
European Union’s external cussion over countries ac-
borders and fight the rea- cepting quotas of migrants
sons why people flee their was taking up “too much
homes. room” at the expense of
Germany was the largest other solutions.
European destination for Merkel also stressed the
refugees fleeing the Syrian need to secure external
civil war and other conflicts borders and reduce illegal
in 2015, which has put pres- migration, while emphasiz-
sure on German Chancel- ing that Germany believes
lor Merkel from the right all European countries
of her conservative Union need to help with the mi-
bloc. grants who get through. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and the Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz, left,
Austria was one of the “It can’t be, in my view, address the media during a joint press conference after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin,
major transit routes for mi- that there are countries Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.
grants and also saw a large who say we won’t take part (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
number of new arrivals in European solidarity,” she passing judgment. we’ll judge the new gov- coalition government with
staying, raising concerns said. Merkel didn’t name Merkel, who has been criti- ernment on its actions,” she the center-left Social Dem-
that helped bring new specific countries, but sev- cal of the nationalist anti- said. Merkel added that ocrats, saying he would
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz eral Eastern European na- migrant Alternative for Ger- what she’d heard from the refrain from “meddling in
to office in a coalition with tions have opposed taking many that won seats in par- new Austrian government (German) politics.”
the nationalist, anti-migrant in migrants. liament for the first time in regarding Europe politics But, he said, Merkel’s “one
Freedom Party. The two chancellors sug- September’s election, said convinced her they would of the most experienced
In his inaugural visit to Berlin gested they were both tak- it was too early to com- work with Germany in “very government leaders”
since becoming chancel- ing a wait-and-see attitude ment on Kurz’s decision to close cooperation.” around, and that a “stable
lor last month, Kurz told re- on how political develop- form a coalition with the Kurz, meantime, declined government in Germany
porters he remained “con- ments in their respective Freedom Party in Austria. to comment on Merkel’s is an advantage for both
vinced that the solution for neighbors play out before “I want to make clear that attempts to form a new Austria and Europe.”q
New eurozone chief urges speed in strengthening euro

By GEIR MOULSON first official trip since taking ing finance minister, Pe- last forever,” Centeno add- parliaments.
Associated Press over as head of the euro- ter Altmaier. “I see now a ed. Germany has given a
BERLIN (AP) — Europe group last weekend. In a unique window of opportu- “Strong euro-area institu- mixed response so far to the
needs to use a “unique nod to long-standing Ger- nity before us in the coming tions” are needed and the idea of a eurozone finance
window of opportunity” man concerns about bail- months that we really need role of the currency zone’s minister. At a separate
in the coming months to ing out struggling countries, to grasp.” rescue fund, the European event in Berlin Wednesday,
strengthen the continent’s he declared that “we can- Recent elections have pro- Stability Mechanism, should Chancellor Angela Merkel
common currency, the not create a transfer union” duced pro-European gov- be reinforced in future cri- said that “the question is
new leader of the 19-na- — which, he said, no one ernments in major coun- sis management, Centeno what the job actually is.”
tion eurozone’s finance wants anyway. tries “with a clear mandate said. She added that she would
ministers said Wednesday. “We have a common to deepen the European He also said he sees “ef- be “very skeptical” about
Portuguese Finance Min- agenda to strengthen our monetary union,” he said, ficiency gains from setting combining the eurogroup
ister Mario Centeno trav- common currency,” Cen- while the eurozone’s eco- up in the future a euro-ar- presidency with the job of
eled to Germany, Europe’s teno told reporters after nomic situation is good. ea finance minister” who the EU commissioner for fi-
biggest economy, on his meeting Germany’s act- “These good times won’t would be accountable to nance. q