Czech Republic, Hungary reject Merkel’s plan to return migrants

BERLIN – Details of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plan to solve her government’s migration crisis – and avoid a possible breakup of her coalition – were revealed Saturday in a letter to the leaders of her two coalition partners.

The letter said Merkel had secured agreements with 14 countries for the rapid return of asylum seekers trying to enter Germany who first registered in those countries.

The countries listed in the letter were Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary Belgium, France, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden.

The prime ministers of Czech Republic and Hungary – two of the fiercest critics of Merkel’s decision to admit migrants – vehemently denied they that agreed to any such measures.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said: “Germany did not approach us, and in this moment I would not ratify such an agreement. … We are not planning negotiations. There is no reason to negotiate. We decisively reject this.”

A German government spokesman later said Merkel “regretfully” accepted Prague’s decision, insisting however that “the Czech side had expressed willingness to make a deal for better cooperation in the return (of migrants)” at a European Union summit in Brussels.

Germany already announced a similar agreement with Greece and Spain earlier this week.

According to the plan, larger collection centers in Germany would be used to house migrants while their asylum requests are considered. Unsuccessful applicants would be deported from there.