Merkel calls for summit on refugee crisis

After a meeting with Austrian chancellor Werner Faymann, Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel called on 15 September 2015 for a special summit of EU leaders to deal with the refugee crisis, following a failed attempt by justice and home affairs ministers to reach an agreement on national quotas to relocate migrants.

EU Interior ministers were summoned for another meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, to take place on 22 September 2015. According to media reports, European Council President Donald Tusk stated he was considering Ms Merkel's call.

Chancellor Merkel had been feeling strong political pressure from the opposition and within her coalition government over the way the refugee crisis had been dealt with in Germany, following the decision to suspend the Schengen agreement in the country.

On the 17 September 2015 it was announced that President Tusk had decided to convene an extraordinary, informal meeting of the heads of state or government on the 23 September 2015 to discuss how to deal with the refugee crisis.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 16.09.15: Refugee influx tough on German housing market http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/refugee-numbers-tough-german-housing-market-317690

The Guardian, 15.09.15: Angela Merkel defends Germany's handling of refugee influx http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/angela-merkel-defends-germanys-handling-of-refugee-influx

ESO: Background information: Merkel’s Refugee Crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkels-refugee-crisis/

Deutsche Welle, 15.09.15: Germany and Austria call for EU summit on refugee crisis http://dw.com/p/1GWm3

The Local.de, 15.09.15: EU chiefs must hold migrant summit: Merkel http://www.thelocal.de/20150915/berlin-wants-to-cut-funds-to-states-that-refuse-quotas

EUObserver, 16.09.15: Germany piles on the pressure in refugee talks https://euobserver.com/migration/130284

ESO: Background information: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels, 14 September 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/justice-and-home-affairs-council-brussels-14-september-2015/

ESO: Background information: European Commission Statement following the temporary reintroduction of border controls by Germany, particularly at the German-Austrian border, Brussels, 13 September 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-european-commission-statement-following-the-temporary-reintroduction-of-border-controls-by-germany-particularly-at-the-german-austrian-border-brussels-13-september-2015/

Politico, 15.09.15: EU leaders seek emergency summit on refugees http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-austria-urge-eu-summit-refugees-tusk-merkel-migrant-crisis/

Deutsche Welle, 15.09.15: Merkel hopes to restore European spirit as refugee crisis claims new victims http://dw.com/p/1GX2E

Politico, 17.09.15: Tusk calls new summit in search of EU unity http://www.politico.eu/article/the-eu-nuclear-option-on-migration/

EurActiv, 17.09.15: Tusk calls emergency summit on refugee crisis http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/tusk-calls-emergency-summit-refugee-crisis-317752

EUObserver, 17.09.15: Refugee crisis prompts snap EU summit https://euobserver.com/migration/130316

EurActiv, 21.09.15: German interior minister calls for limits on migrants to EU http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/german-interior-minister-calls-limits-migrants-eu-317794

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

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