In the past days Luxembourg edged closer to its goal by welcoming 55 displaced people living in Greece, including 28 adults and 27 children on 4 and 8 August. This was the seventh group that arrived from Greece and brings the total tally to 272 out of a pledged 309 relocations.

A further 111 asylum seekers who were living in Italy have been relocated to Luxembourg, out of the pledged 248.

The latest group was greeted at Luxembourg’s airport by representatives from the immigration, families and health ministries as well as integration and reception agency Olai.

The 55 people will not be issued automatic refugee status but will be subject to the same asylum procedure as all asylum seekers.

Luxembourg's relocation pledge followed a call from the UNHCR on European countries to open more legal channels for refugees to relocate, so they do not have to resort to smugglers and traffickers.

Posssible legal channels include more family reunification and resettlement, including from countries of first asylum; humanitarian entry schemes and expanded visa arrangements for students and workers.

During the first seven months of 2017, Luxembourg received 1,369 applications for international protection.