Berlin eases asylum rules for Syrians as migrants pour into EU

Germany on Aug. 25 said it had eased asylum rules for Syrians in a move expected to relieve pressure on southern European nations as thousands more migrants pour into the bloc.

Record numbers of people are streaming into EU member Hungary from Serbia, posing a new headache for regional leaders who will meet this week at a summit to be dominated by Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II.
 
As criticism mounts over the bloc's response to the crisis, Germany said it has stopped returning Syrian asylum-seekers to their first EU port of entry, becoming the first member state to effectively simplify the application process for those fleeing the brutal civil war.
 
"Simply put, Europe is in a situation that is not worthy of Europe," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, calling for a "dialogue with the people" on how to redistribute the refugees fairly within the EU.
 
Natasha Bertaud, spokeswoman for the EU Commission, said Germany's move was "recognition of the fact that we cannot leave the member states at the external borders alone in dealing with a large number of asylum seekers seeking refuge in Europe."    

Under the so-called Dublin rules, the first EU country where an asylum-seeker arrives is usually required to process the claimant's application.
 
In practice, this means countries on the EU's borders like Greece or Italy are overwhelmed with applications as thousands arrive on their shores after a dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
 
Hungary, another country on the edge of the EU, is rushing to build a vast razor-wire barrier to keep migrants out.
 
The European Commission said it stood ready to provide Hungary with emergency EU facilities as Budapest struggles to...