Luxembourg, 06/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU member states do not demonstrate solidarity when it comes to accepting Iraqi refugees. Upon request from Germany, the issue was put on the agenda of the meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday 5 June 2008. Member states were encouraged at the meeting to accept groups of vulnerable people, essentially groups of women and children, explained Slovenian interior minister Dragutin Mate at a press conference. He said he doubted that a compromise would be reached. He said the ministers had focussed instead on the need to help Iraqis in Iraq itself and in neighbouring countries. He said the available funding would make it possible to have many more people in place. EU Immigration Commissioner Jacques Barrot asked for member states to show solidarity. Europeans are going to have to share the burden, he said. At the meeting, Barrot said that the European Commission was prepared to financially help member states accepting Iraqi refugees to the tune of €4000 per woman, unaccompanied child or person with health problems. He added that the UN High Commission for Refugees would be able to manage 20,000 reinstallations in 2009. This effort is within the EU's reach, he said, welcoming the fact that the French Presidency of the EU backed pursuing discussions. (B.C./transl. fl)