In order to better manage the influx, refugees must be able to stay in the neighboring countries of the crisis states, migration movements within Europe must be managed more effectively and the EU's external borders must be better protected. The Association of German Cities made this clear today in Schwerin.

The President of the Association of German Cities, Mayor Dr. Eva Lohse from Ludwigshafen, said: "The cities are doing their best to make it easier for people to arrive and to promote their integration. However, if the number of refugees were to rise again, the municipalities' reception and integration capacities would be overwhelmed."

In addition to international efforts, the federal and state governments would have to swiftly put the planned accelerated asylum procedures into practice and then consistently return people with no prospects of staying to their home countries. According to the Association of Cities, this is necessary so that only refugees who need protection as civil war refugees and politically persecuted persons are assigned to the municipalities.