Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 19 June 2018

Merkel, allies avert collision for now in German migrant row

By GEIR MOULSON "We want to support Italy's
BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor desire for solidarity, and
Angela Merkel's allies in Ba- also hope that Germany
varia averted an immedi- receives understanding
ate collision Monday with when it comes to the ques-
the German leader, giving tion of European solidarity
her two weeks to make on the question of migra-
deals on migrants with oth- tion," she said.
er European countries in- Saying he appreciated
stead of turning them back Merkel's acknowledgment
unilaterally at Germany's of Italy's situation, Conte
border. reiterated his view that EU
In her fourth term at the accords that link asylum-
helm of Europe's largest seekers to the first country
economy, Merkel made they reach should be re-
it clear that she has no in- placed.
tention of being pushed The Italian government is
around after an internal proposing so-called "hot-
power struggle over immi- spots" in migrants' countries
gration escalated into a of origin or transit to pre-
threat to her government. screen asylum candidates
She said she would report before they set out for Eu-
back July 1 on the results of rope. Such an approach,
her negotiations, and that German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a news conference after a leaders meetings of her Conte said, would reflect
as far as she's concerned Christion Democratic Union party at the party's headquarters in Berlin, Monday, June 18, 2018. more of a shared view of
it's not yet clear what will Associated Press the challenge and less of
happen if there's no Euro- what he said was the pre-
pean deal on the divisive ternative for Germany par- hofer may only have de- what that is." vailing attitude now that
topic. ty ahead of a challenging layed a head-on collision. Hours later, Merkel met in "he who sets foot in Italy
Her interior minister, Horst state election in Bavaria in "We think that turning peo- Berlin with Italian Premier sets foot in Europe."
Seehofer, has been calling October. ple back without consul- Giuseppe Conte, the head In Munich, Seehofer said his
for Germany to turn back A CSU leadership meeting tation at our borders, as a of a new, populist govern- party would be happy to
migrants at the border who Monday in Munich unani- country at the heart of Eu- ment whose interior minister see European or bilateral
have previously applied mously backed Seehofer's rope, could lead to nega- has pledged to deport tens solutions this month that
for asylum or registered as plan to give Merkel until tive domino effects that of thousands of migrants. "achieve the same that
asylum-seekers in other Eu- the end of the month to could also hurt Germany The German leader noted we can achieve by turning
ropean countries. find a solution with other and ultimately lead to the that both Italy and Ger- people back at the bor-
Merkel opposes such unilat- EU countries. That banished questioning of European many have been dispro- der." "We wish the chancel-
eral action, arguing that it — if only for now — the unity," Merkel said after her portionately affected by lor success in this," he said.
would increase pressure on specter of Seehofer push- party's leadership met. recent mass migration to "But we stand by our posi-
Mediterranean countries ing through his proposal in Merkel said she would hold Europe, where Italy is often tion that, if this does not
such as Italy and Greece defiance of the chancellor, bilateral agreement talks the point of entry for new succeed, turning people
and weaken the entire which would risk bringing during a June 28-29 EU sum- arrivals and Germany the back immediately at the
28-nation European Union. down her government. mit. Her party will consider hoped-for destination. border must be possible."
Seehofer heads the Ba- Asked in Berlin whether her the results on July 1 "and Merkel said European na- Seehofer said he told fellow
varia-only Christian Social government can work well decide how to proceed tions needed to work hard- leaders that "we're not out
Union, the sister party to until the end of its term in in light of what has been er to help Libya and other of the woods yet."
Merkel's Christian Demo- 2021 and whether she is achieved," she said. points of departure to pro- He said he would go ahead
cratic Union. The CSU is still in full control, Merkel re- It wasn't immediately clear vide for refugees so they with preparations to block
determined to show that plied: "Yes to both." what she might offer oth- don't attempt the perilous some asylum-seekers at the
it's tough on migration, ar- Merkel emphasized the er countries in the talks. trip across the Mediterra- border in case Merkel's ne-
guing that this is the best need for Germany's con- Merkel said she will have to nean Sea. She also called gotiations on getting other
way to cut support for the servative parties to stick discuss "what is important for doing more to stop hu- countries to take back mi-
anti-migration, far-right Al- together, but she and See- for others; I can't say today man smugglers. grants don't bear fruit.q