German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called on Thursday for a joint European approach to the possible return of Syrian refugees.
“I believe it would be very expedient to organize this together,” Faeser said, as she arrived to a meeting of European Union home affairs ministers in Brussels.
Several EU countries, including Germany, Austria and Italy, suspended asylum proceedings for Syrians after former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad fled from the country on Sunday.
EU countries should exchange information on developments in Syria, she said, adding that some more time is needed to understand where Syria is headed.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner also spoke out in favour of a joint approach in the EU, but warned pf delaying progress.
“We must now prepare the things that are necessary,” Karner said.
“On the one hand, we need to suspend proceedings and then prepare for repatriations and deportations now. You can’t wait, you have to work to make that clear,” he said.
