Czech Republic to take in first refugees under EU quota system

The Czech Republic has decided to take in the first seven Syrian refugees under a quota system approved by the European Union. The seven have undergone security vetting but three of them escaped from a Greek facility in order to avoid being relocated to the Czech Republic, the Czech News Agency reported, quoting a Ministry of the Interior report. The Czech authorites rejected 23 other asylum seekers on security grounds. The country is due to take in just under 2,700 refugees by the end of next year under the system, which the Czech government opposed.

Author: Ian Willoughby