Sharp decline in number of refugees arriving in Germany

The number of refugees arriving in Germany in sharp decline following the closure of the Balkans migration route as well as the EU's deal with Turkey, government figures showed on Friday.

Around 16,000 entered the borders per month in April, May and June - less than a fifth of the amount seen at the start of 2016, data from the government's Easy computer system showed.

Figures confirm 91,671 arrived in January while February saw 61,428 others.

In June, 16,335 refugees were registered.

"We see that the measures taken on the German and European level are having an effect," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said, adding there was a "tangible easing" of the situation compared with last year when more than a million people had flocked to the borders.

Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) confirmed it processed 283,236 asylum applications in the first half of 2016, more than double the number in the same period in 2015.

"The refugee crisis has certainly not been resolved. But the solution is progressing well in Europe and very well in Germany," de Maiziere said.

Meanwhile in Turkey, up to 300,000 Syrian refugees could be given citizenship to remain in the country in  a bid to keep "wealthy and educated" Syrians, Turkish media reported on Saturday.

Nationality would be given step-by-step, with initial plans for 30,000 to 40,000 Syrians gaining citizenship, the Haberturk daily said just a week after President Recep Erdogan said citizenship would be offered.

"We will give the chance to [acquire] citizenship by helping out these brothers and sisters by monitoring through offices set up by the ministry," Erdogan said.

Turkey hosts over 2 million Syrian refugees and was one of the few countries to allow Syrians to enter without a visa.

Refugees have also used the country as a launch pad to Europe through Greece.

Turkey in March signed a deal with the EU that aims to stem the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe.

In exchange, the EU said it would resettle one Syrian refugee from camps in Turkey for every Syrian that Ankara takes back from Greece.Under the deal, Turkey agreed to take back all migrants and refugees landing in the Greek islands, and to crack down on people smuggling over the Aegean Sea.

Turkey was also offered visa-free access, increased aid and speeded up EU accession talks if it met certain conditions including changes to Ankara's anti-terrorism laws.

However, rights groups have slammed the EU-Turkish deal, with Amnesty International describing as "illegal" and "reckless".  

The conflict in Syria, which has lasted five years, has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.