Germany stops sending asylum seekers back to Greece

2011-01-20 07:45:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

BERLIN (BNO NEWS) - Germany will not return asylum seekers to Greece in order to reduce the burden on Greek authorities, news agency DPA reported.

The measure, which is to apply for a year, is aimed at allowing Greece to improve its detention facilities for migrants.

"The decision is limited to a year because we can assume that substantial improvements can be achieved in Greece in this time," said a ministry spokesman.

Campaign groups said that asylum seekers in Greece are not always treated in accordance with human rights, partly due to an overburdened immigration system.

The claims of refugees who reached Germany via Greece are to be processed by authorities in Berlin during this period.

Last year, Germany returned just 55 people to Greece, out of a possible 2,458 refugees whose claims should have been processed in Athens.

Other European countries that have taken similar measures include Sweden, Iceland, the UK and Norway.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-20

I wonder if Germany regrets letting Greece into the EU.

I wonder if Germany regrets letting Greece into the EU.

You just won the award for "Best rethorical question of the day".