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Germany secures deal for return of failed asylum claimants: reports

The election of right-wing populists is increasing pressure on governments to close borders to migrants. The European Union's core principle is open borders, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel says anti-immigration policies could make or break the EU. As Eric Sorensen reports, Merkel herself is in danger of seeing her coalition government fall over the issue – Jun 28, 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly secured agreements with 14 European Union countries to facilitate the rapid return of migrants who have been rejected for asylum.

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The dpa news agency reported Saturday Merkel also informed government coalition partners in a letter she wants “anchor centres” to process migrants at Germany’s borders.

READ MORE: Angela Merkel given 2 weeks to reach migration deal with EU counterparts

The developments come amid a standoff between Merkel and her Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who heads her Bavarian-only partner Christian Social Union party. Seehofer wants to turn some migrants away at Germany’s borders, and Merkel insisted on a European-wide solution.

“It is in Germany’s interest to achieve the regulation of migration in a good partnership with our European neighbors,” Merkel said two weeks ago.

“We think that turning people back without consultation at our borders, as a country at the heart of Europe, could lead to negative domino effects that could also hurt Germany and ultimately lead to the questioning of European unity.”

READ MORE: G7 summit with Donald Trump a ‘depressing’ experience, Angela Merkel says

Merkel on Friday came away from a EU summit with agreements from Greece and Spain to take back migrants previously registered in those countries, and an overall agreement by the 28-bloc to ease the pressure of migration into Europe.

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