Germany reaches deal with Spain to return migrants

By Erbil Basay

BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday reached an agreement with Spain to send back migrants caught at the German border.

In a news conference in Berlin, German Interior Ministry’s spokeswoman Eleonore Petermann said the agreement includes the migrants who previously registered in Spain and caught at the German border.

According to the agreement, which will take effect on Saturday, the migrants picked up at the German border will be sent back to Spain in 48 hours, Petermann said.

Spain didn't ask for anything in return, she added.

Petermann also said German Chancellor Angela Merkel would visit Spain on August 11-12 to meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Germany has been holding similar talks with Greece and Italy where a bigger number of migrants have been flocking to the country.

Merkel has been under growing pressure at home to address the refugee issue.

She has recently agreed to stricter measures, after her coalition partner CSU’s leader and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer threatened to quit the government.

Germany received more than a million refugees in the last three years, mostly from Syria and Iraq.

Merkel’s decision in 2015 to open doors for refugees fleeing conflicts and persecution was widely criticized by conservatives, and was exploited by the far-right and populist parties.