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Future of Unified Europe Is Under Threat, French Premier Warns Future of Unified Europe Is Under Threat, French Premier Warns
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France has issued a stark warning about the future of a unified Europe, saying the very idea was under threat unless the Continent can protect its borders in the face of a huge influx of migrants.LONDON — Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France has issued a stark warning about the future of a unified Europe, saying the very idea was under threat unless the Continent can protect its borders in the face of a huge influx of migrants.
Speaking to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said that the Continent could not accommodate the enormous numbers of migrants and warned that they could destabilize European societies.Speaking to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said that the Continent could not accommodate the enormous numbers of migrants and warned that they could destabilize European societies.
“If Europe is not capable of protecting its own borders, it’s the very idea of Europe that will be questioned,” he told the BBC on Thursday. “Europe has forgotten that borders are required.” “If Europe is not capable of protecting its own borders, it’s the very idea of Europe that will be questioned,” Mr. Valls told the BBC on Thursday. “Europe has forgotten that borders are required.”
More than a million migrants reached European shores last year, and there is no sign that the influx is abating. This year, 36,781 migrants, including asylum seekers, are reported to have arrived to Europe by sea and by land, according to the International Organization for Migration.More than a million migrants reached European shores last year, and there is no sign that the influx is abating. This year, 36,781 migrants, including asylum seekers, are reported to have arrived to Europe by sea and by land, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The human cost of the migrant crisis, the biggest influx of people since World War II, was highlighted on Friday when at least 21 people died overnight after two boats sank, The Associated Press reported. The human cost of the migrant crisis, the biggest influx of people since World War II, was highlighted on Friday when at least 41 people died overnight after two boats sank, The Associated Press reported.
Citing the Greek Coast Guard, The A.P. said a wooden boat carrying 48 people sank early Friday off the small island of Farmakonisi, while another wooden boat sank off the island of Kalolimnos. Citing the Greek Coast Guard, The A.P. said 34 people, including 11 children, had died when a wooden sailing boat carrying migrants sank off the small island of Kalolimnos, and seven more had died when another vessel sank off the island of Farmakonisi. The Coast Guard was continuing to search the area by sea and air.
Hundreds of thousands of migrants from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, buffeted by conflict and war, have been making the journey to Europe in search of a better future, often putting their lives in the hands of unscrupulous people smugglers to make the perilous journey. Greece is the most popular entry point into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. Buffeted by conflict and war, they have been making the perilous journey in search of a better future, often putting their lives in the hands of unscrupulous people smugglers.
The Schengen Zone, which permits largely unchecked movement across most of the Continent and was described by Mr. Valls as “one of the great European projects,” has been under severe strain as countries have introduced border controls aimed at stemming the flow of migrants.The Schengen Zone, which permits largely unchecked movement across most of the Continent and was described by Mr. Valls as “one of the great European projects,” has been under severe strain as countries have introduced border controls aimed at stemming the flow of migrants.
Over the summer, Hungary erected a razor-wire fence on its border with Croatia. This month, Sweden, once one of the most welcoming of nations for refugees, introduced identity checks for travelers arriving from Denmark in an effort to curb their numbers.Over the summer, Hungary erected a razor-wire fence on its border with Croatia. This month, Sweden, once one of the most welcoming of nations for refugees, introduced identity checks for travelers arriving from Denmark in an effort to curb their numbers.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has come under increasing pressure at home and abroad for the country’s more welcoming approach to refugees, and Mr. Valls, while acknowledging that she had “courage,” said that “the first message we need to send now with the greatest firmness is to say that we will not welcome all the refugees in Europe.” Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has come under increasing pressure at home and abroad for the country’s more welcoming approach to refugees, and Mr. Valls, while acknowledging that she had “courage,” said that “the first message we need to send now, with the greatest firmness, is to say that we will not welcome all the refugees in Europe.”
“You have to find a solution in Syria and Iraq. And you have to destroy Daesh,” added Mr. Valls in his interview with the BBC, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. “You need a political process,” he said, adding that for Syria that would “take time.” “You have to find a solution in Syria and Iraq. And you have to destroy Daesh,” Mr. Valls added in his interview with the BBC, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. “You need a political process,” he said, adding that for Syria that would “take time.”
President Obama offered backing for Ms. Merkel on Thursday, telling her that the United States would provide “substantial” support to efforts to ease the refugee crisis stemming from the conflict in Syria, ahead of an international donors conference to address the issue next month. President Obama offered backing for Ms. Merkel on Thursday, telling her that the United States would provide “substantial” support to efforts to ease the refugee crisis stemming from the conflict in Syria, before an international donors conference to address the issue next month.
Mr. Obama spoke with Ms. Merkel by telephone to discuss the need for increased support for the refugees, along with other international issues including the conflict in Ukraine and the coming NATO summit meeting in Warsaw, Ms. Merkel’s office said in a statement.Mr. Obama spoke with Ms. Merkel by telephone to discuss the need for increased support for the refugees, along with other international issues including the conflict in Ukraine and the coming NATO summit meeting in Warsaw, Ms. Merkel’s office said in a statement.
Ms. Merkel is one of the hosts of the donors conference that will take place in London on Feb. 4. “The president said that the U.S. administration would take part in a substantial way,” her office said.Ms. Merkel is one of the hosts of the donors conference that will take place in London on Feb. 4. “The president said that the U.S. administration would take part in a substantial way,” her office said.
Austria, previously her strongest European ally on the issue, changed course this week, announcing it would limit the number of refugees it takes in this year to 37,500, down from 90,000 in 2015.Austria, previously her strongest European ally on the issue, changed course this week, announcing it would limit the number of refugees it takes in this year to 37,500, down from 90,000 in 2015.
In Davos, Mr. Valls also said that France intended to maintain the state of emergency it had introduced after terrorist attacks in Paris in November until a “total and global war” against the Islamic State had ended. He told the BBC that France could be targeted again and that the country had foiled six plots in recent months.In Davos, Mr. Valls also said that France intended to maintain the state of emergency it had introduced after terrorist attacks in Paris in November until a “total and global war” against the Islamic State had ended. He told the BBC that France could be targeted again and that the country had foiled six plots in recent months.
Under the state of emergency, French law enforcement officers have raided thousands of homes and businesses, arrested hundreds of people and closed down some mosques and prayer rooms over concerns that they were preaching extremist views.Under the state of emergency, French law enforcement officers have raided thousands of homes and businesses, arrested hundreds of people and closed down some mosques and prayer rooms over concerns that they were preaching extremist views.
The threat of terrorism and the concern over the migrant influx have become intertwined since the Paris attacks, after several of the assailants were found to have made their way to Europe by disguising themselves among the migrants. The threat of terrorism and the concern over the migrant influx have become intertwined since the Paris attacks, after several of the assailants were found to have made their way to Europe by disguising themselves among migrants.