On Thursday, European Union Interior Ministers agreed on draft reforms to asylum policies in the bloc, Thursday, at a meeting in Luxembourg against the backdrop of rising numbers of migrants.
One of the reforms under consideration is to introduce preliminary checks of asylum seekers, within weeks of their arrival in the bloc, at reception facilities at EU borders.
If the applicant has no chance of obtaining asylum, they will be returned immediately.
The German government wants to exempt minors under the age of 18 and families with minors from the procedure.
A mandatory solidarity mechanism is also being considered for EU member states with large migrant arrivals.
This includes moving an agreed number of asylum seekers between EU member states. For EU countries that are not willing or unable to accept relocated migrants, financial support is offered instead.
It remains unclear whether an agreement is possible.
If EU member states reach a common position on reforms, negotiations with the European Parliament could begin.
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