German minister calls for 1 billion to tackle 'worst refugee crisis in 50 years'

In the run up to an informal meeting among EU development ministers, Germany's Gerd Mller is calling for stronger action to tackle the worldwide refugee crisis, saying that simply "raising fences" is too little. EurActiv Germany reports.

German Development Minister Gerd Mller has said he wants to fight the "worst refugee crisis in 50 years" with more money and new personnel.

"The refugee issue will continue to challenge us more strongly than ever", Mller told the newspaper Schwbische Zeitung. Apart from a quick reaction to the current crisis, "structural changes" are also necessary in the long run, the minister said.

During an informal meeting of the EU's development ministers in Florence on Tuesday (15 July), Mller hopes to discuss an immediate action programme of around 1 billion.

"The European Commission should develop a proposal for financing an EU emergency billion for refugees", Mller said.

The emergency programme is intended to be financed by restructuring in the EU budget.

Mller spoke in support of bundling the various financing options for refugee and development aid currently in place.

"We cannot walk through the world with a watering can," the development minister said. Bundling could free up more funds for preventing and tackling ongoing refugee crises.

But according to Mller, the emergency billion must also be attached to certain conditions.

"We cannot solve the problem by taking more people in here", Mller told the Bavarian broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. While it is important to be generous in accepting refugees, Germany is already doing quite a lot regarding this issue, the development minister commented.

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German minister calls for 1 billion to tackle 'worst refugee crisis in 50 years'