France to Take In 24,000 Refugees Over Two Years

The French president François Hollande announced on Monday that France will take in 24,000 refugees over the next two years, as requested by Brussels.

France will open its doors to 24,000 refugees over the next two years, the president announced on Monday.

That’s the number the European Commission has asked France to accept under a new plan aimed at easing the refugee crisis.

Speaking on Monday French president François Hollande said that France is “willing to play its part”.

“We will do it because that is the principles that France is built on,” he told the media.

Reports in Le Monde on Monday claim Germany will be asked to take in 31, 000 refugees.

Last week Hollande and Germany’s Angela Merkel called for binding quotas to be imposed on EU nations regarding the numbers of refugees they should take in.

The French presidency announced the two European powerhouses would send joint proposals to Brussels “for organising the welcome of refugees and their fair distribution in Europe” and for “reinforcing the European asylum system.”

With the large number of refugees and migrants flooding into Europe and moving through the continent, it warned that “dramas are being followed by tragedies.”

“Thousands of victims have died since the start of the year. The European Union must act in a decisive manner in line with its values,” the French presidency said.

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