Germany asks countries to speed migrant repatriation (2)

(ANSA) - Berlin, February 23 - Germany's interior and foreign ministers have sent a letter to 17 countries asking for the repatriation of people who have been refused asylum in Germany to be accelerated, the Bild daily reported, citing the letter.
    "The unprecedented escape and migratory movement of the last months has particularly hit Germany as a destination aim," Bild cited Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as saying in the letter.
    "For this reason, those that do no not have the right to stay have to go back to their origin country more quickly than in the past." The 17 countries to which the letter is addressed include Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Tunisia, Bangladesh and India.
    Separately, European Commissioner for Immigration Dimitris Avramopoulos and Dutch Minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff said in a joint statement on Tuesday that the European Union must act with solidarity and responsibility, especially in times of difficulty.