Germany expects a million immigrants this year, 20% higher than first thought

Germany is expecting one million migrants this year - 200,000 more than previously estimated, Angela Merkel’s deputy has said. In a letter to party members, the country’s vice chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said: “Everything points to the fact that we won’t have 800,000 migrants as has been predicted by the Interior Ministry, but one million.” He also called for other EU nations to take their fair share of refugees, and warned a “common European effort” to tackle the crisis is badly needed.

By shutting the border with Austria, it is clear that the German government have realised the scale of their error.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage

Over the weekend, Germany tightened controls along its border with Austria - creating traffic jams at major crossings. A German government spokesman has stressed the “temporary border controls are not a closure of the border” - but are designed to ensure refugees arrive “in a more orderly process”. In addition, Gabriel said the policy should be seen as a “clear signal to European partners that Germany, even if we are prepared to provide disproportionate assistance, cannot accommodate all the refugees alone”.

Politics german refugees