Europe

Merkel and Hollande prepare for EU summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Hollande are to an informal chat in Strasbourg met. According to diplomats, they want about European policy issues to advise.

At the Meeting in the Prefecture of Strasbourg wanted to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President François Hollande to their positions before the EU summit on the 18.and 19. February vote, it was known from diplomatic circles.

Refugee crisis in focus

It’ll go primarily to the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe as well as the future of the Schengen area, after several EU States back border controls have been introduced. You may would Merkel and Hollande also about additional assistance for Greece discuss the of the massive Flüchtlingsandrang particularly affected, said diplomats.

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Also the proposals for reform, with which the EU a British exit from the European Union wants to prevent, is likely to come up. According to the Federal government is neither a press conference nor public explanation.

After the conversation between Merkel and Hollande is a dinner with the President of the European Parliament, the SPD politician Martin Schulz, in a typical Alsatian Restaurant. Also it is according to the information of a speaker of the speaker to the upcoming EU summit to go. To the dinner, as already in the previous year, Schulz invited.

Trip to Turkey

On Monday, Merkel to discuss the question of refugees in Turkey is expected. The country plays a key role. The Turkey is for migrants and refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, the main transit country on the way to Central and Northern Europe. Ankara was last in the criticism, because the government believes that Merkel’s and many Europeans are so far not enough has been done to the Crossing of refugees from its coastline in the EU-state of Greece to stop.

Ankara had at the end of November, among other things, promised that the borders be better protected. In return, promised to the EU, at least three billion Euro for the supply of the more than two million refugees in Turkey. In addition, the EU accession negotiations and the talks on the visa-free entry for Turks to be accelerated.

The Chancellor will be in Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu meeting. Merkel was not until the middle of October in Turkey. German-Turkish government consultations in Berlin are not yet available four weeks back.

wl/qu (afp, dpa)