BERLIN (AP) — The Latest on migration into Europe (all times local):

2 p.m.

Germany's interior ministry says an agreement has been reached for both the federal and Bavarian state police to patrol the border, checking for migrants entering the country.

In a statement Sunday, the ministry said Bavarian police will be able to conduct checks along the country's southern border with Austria "at the request or with the consent of federal police."

Bavaria's conservative-led state government has been pressing for tighter border controls ahead of a regional election this fall in which the issue of migration is expected to play a prominent role. But questions had been raised about the legality of state police performing a task normally reserved for federal police.

The number of people crossing the German-Austrian border illegally has dropped sharply since a dramatic influx of migrants in 2015.

1:25 p.m.

Germany says it will take 50 of the 450 migrants rescued from a fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea that's been at the center of a squabble between Italy and Malta.

In a statement Sunday, the German government said "with a view to the ongoing talks about greater bilateral cooperation on asylum, Germany is prepared to take in 50 people in this case."

France and Malta have also agreed to take in about 100 migrants from the ship.

Italy put out a call for help to other European Union countries, saying it wants them to share the burden of taking in migrants coming across the Mediterranean.

According to EU figures, Germany saw almost 1 million asylum applications in 2016 and 2017; Italy came second with about 250,000.