Austria asks Commission for €600 million to cover refugee costs

Austria's finance minister Hans Jörg Schelling sent a letter to European Commission's president Jean-Claude Juncker and Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva on 6 February 2016 asking the European Union to provide €600 million to cover the costs of his country accepting refugees. Mr Schelling argued that only three member states were shouldering the burden of the refugee crisis.

According to media reports, the Commission was set to decide whether to provide extra emergency funding for member states after the meeting of EU finance ministers on 12 February.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Austria ‘temporarily’ suspends Schengen http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-temporarily-suspends-schengen-austria-to-repatriate-50000-asylum-seekers-over-three-years/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

Deutsche Welle, 06.02.16: Austria asks EU for 600 million euros to cover refugee costs http://dw.com/p/1HqxS

EurActiv, 11.02.16: EU exec to recommend suspending third of migrant relocations to Austria http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-exec-recommend-suspending-third-migrant-relocation-austria-321744

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