German Chancellor Olaf Scholz looks on next to the President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Stefan Lofven during the meeting of the Party of European Socialists in Malaga, Spain, November 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Nov 11 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday signalled an openness to study Italy's deal to hold migrants in Albania as the European Union tries to stem illegal immigration. Scholz's briefing, of which Reuters obtained an audio file, was held on the sidelines of a congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES). Scholz had on Tuesday agreed on a tougher migration policy and new funding for refugees with the heads of Germany's 16 states. Scholz also said six western Balkan states that had been promised EU membership 20 years ago should "soon" be integrated.

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Persons: Olaf Scholz, Stefan Lofven, Jon Nazca, Scholz, Andreas Rinke, Vera Eckert, Dditing, David Holmes Organizations: Party of European Socialists, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Monday Rome, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Malaga, Spain, Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Israel, Gaza