Germany will reduce refugee influx, Angela Merkel tells party

Chancellor Angela Merkel has told her conservative party that Germany will reduce the refugee influx, saying she is still confident that Europe will pass the “historical test” it faces.

Germany has seen about a million refugees arrive this year.

Ms Merkel has insisted that “we will manage it”, but some in her conservative bloc have urged a tougher approach.

Ms Merkel told a congress of her Christian Democratic Union on Monday that her decision in early September to let in refugees stranded in Hungary was “a humanitarian imperative”.

While sticking to her approach, Ms Merkel underscored her aim of getting refugee numbers down.

She said: “We want to, and will, appreciably reduce the number of refugees, because it’s in everyone’s interest.”