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Dissent, squabbles: migrant crisis takes toll on EU evermore Dissent, squabbles: migrant crisis takes toll on EU evermore
(about 2 hours later)
BRUSSELS — The well-trodden path that has led hundreds of thousands of refugees and other migrants into the European Union’s heartland is increasingly eating at the core of the once-tight bloc. BRUSSELS — The European Union’s once-tight unity is being rapidly eroded as hundreds of thousands of refugees and other migrants walk a well-trodden path through the Balkans and into the bloc’s heartland.
As destination countries unilaterally move to restrict new entries, others further back on the route have panicked that people will get stuck within their borders and have started taking their own actions, showing little concern for coordinating with their EU partners. As some EU countries move to restrict new entries, those further south and east fear that thousands of migrants will get stuck and overwhelm their nations. That has prompted several to start acting unilaterally, showing little concern for coordinating with their EU partners.
“Right now the unity of the Union and lives — human lives — are at stake,” said the EU’s migration chief Dimitris Avramopoulos as he entered Thursday’s meeting of the 28 interior ministers to assess the rapidly deteriorating situation. “Right now the unity of the union and lives — human lives — are at stake,” said EU migration chief Dimitris Avramopoulos at Thursday’s meeting of the bloc’s 28 interior ministers to assess the rapidly deteriorating situation.
The fear of crumbling unity has spread like wildfire throughout the EU over recent days: a common response to the migration crisis is seen as a Litmus test for the bloc. The fear of crumbling unity has spread like wildfire throughout the EU in the last few days. Some see the lack of a common response to the continent’s immigration crisis as a Litmus test for the bloc. This unraveling of unity is what EU President Donald Tusk has been warning about for weeks but which now the EU seems to be unable to stop.
The impact of increasing go-it-alone actions on border restrictions and imposition of quotas was evident on the ground Thursday when thousands of refugees and other migrants were stranded across Greece, with hundreds having waited in buses along the country’s main north-south highway for roughly two days. There are even fears that the migration crisis could even fuel the “out” campaign for Britain’s EU membership referendum on June 23.
The bottleneck came after Macedonia severely restricted the number of people it is allowing to cross and continue their northward journey toward more prosperous European countries, in response to similar actions by countries further along the route. The impact of increasing go-it-alone new border restrictions and refugee quotas was evident on the ground Thursday on Greece’s border with Macedonia. Some 2,800 people massed to get into Macedonia but only 100 were allowed to cross.
Greek Deputy Interior Minister Ioannis Mouzalas was angry about a meeting Wednesday in Vienna where Austria and many of its southern neighbors agreed to tighter border controls and warned that they may have to shut their doors entirely. On Thursday, Greece recalled its ambassador to Athens in protest at the talks. The bottleneck came after Macedonia severely restricted the number and nationalities of people it is allowing to travel across its territory and continue north toward more prosperous European countries. Macedonian officials have said the move comes in response to similar actions by countries further up along the route, including Serbia and Austria.
The border closures would squeeze Greece in between the Balkan nations to the north and Turkey, where most of the refugees come from. With a full closure, Greece reception capacity could become overwhelmed in days. “The police kept stopping us, but I couldn’t wait,” 23-year-old Syrian university student Walaa Jbara said near the border, clutching his smartphone. “I’m checking the news on Facebook, and I know the Macedonians are not letting people through.”
NATO is beginning a surveillance mission in the waters between Greece and Turkey and its decision to return any rescued migrants to Turkey could help relieve some pressure on Greek reception centers. Greece is getting increasingly angry about such policies. The government recalled its ambassador from Vienna following a meeting there Wednesday where Austria and many regional European neighbors agreed to tighter border controls — but did not invite Greece.
But Mouzalas said his nation refuses to become “a warehouse of souls” and said that in the wake of border restrictions that were not part of common EU decisions, “Greece too, can take unilateral action,” threatening to block decisions at a March 7 EU migration summit if sharing of the refugee burden is not made obligatory for member states. The border closures are squeezing Greece between the Balkan nations to the north and Turkey, where most of the refugees are coming from. If northern nations did fully close their borders, Greece’s refugee reception capacity could become overwhelmed within days.
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias recalled the ambassador “in order to safeguard the friendly relations between the states and the people of Greece and Austria,” a statement said. NATO is beginning a surveillance mission in the sea between Greece and Turkey and its decision to return any rescued migrants to Turkey could help relieve some pressure on Greek reception centers.
It is the sort of unraveling of unity that EU President Donald Tusk has been warning about for weeks now but which the EU seems to be unable to stop. But Greek Deputy Interior Minister Ioannis Mouzalas said his nation refuses to become “a warehouse of souls.” He declared that, in the wake of border restrictions that were not common EU decisions, “Greece too, can take unilateral action.” Mouzalas threatened to block decisions at a March 7 EU immigration summit if the sharing of the refugee burden was not made obligatory for member states.
Another indication of just how far the issue has reached is the discord Belgium and France, two founding nations of the bloc who have almost always stood side-by-side in the 60-year history of the union. Hungary, increasingly a recalcitrant EU member since Prime Minister Viktor Orban came to power in 2010, has called for a national referendum on the EU’s plan for mandatory quotas for refugees. The EU head office said it fails to understand how such a vote could affect a decision already made by all EU nations, including Hungary.
On Thursday, France’s interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve criticized its northern neighbor for tightening border controls over concerns about a flood of migrants from a camp in France. The EU plans to share 160,000 migrants who have already arrived in overburdened Greece and Italy with other EU nations over two years. But so far, barely 600 people have been relocated, and only some EU nations have offered places for them — fewer than 5,000 spots in all.
Belgium has sent up to 290 extra police officers to their common border after French authorities moved to close a migrant camp in Calais. An immigration dispute has even erupted between Belgium and France, two founding nations who have almost always stood side-by-side in the 60-year history of the union.
Cazeneuve described Belgium’s move as “a strange decision” and rejected fears that hundreds of migrants would move into Belgium. On Thursday, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve criticized its northern neighbor for tightening border controls over concerns about a flood of migrants from a camp in France. Belgium has sent up to 290 extra police officers to their common border after French authorities moved to close a migrant camp in Calais.
Meanwhile in Germany — the destination for many of the migrants — lawmakers on Thursday approved a package of measures meant to speed up migrant processing and cut the number of newcomers. Cazeneuve described Belgium’s move as “a strange decision” and rejected fears that hundreds of migrants would soon move into Belgium.
The package foresees special centers being set up to quickly process migrants who have little realistic chance of winning asylum and means that some asylum-seekers — likely including some Syrians — will have to wait longer to bring relatives to Germany. In Germany — the destination of choice for many of the migrants — lawmakers on Thursday approved a package of measures to speed up migrant processing and cut the number of newcomers.
Germany registered nearly 1.1 million people as asylum seekers last year and officials are keen to ensure that the number is lower this year. The package foresees special centers being set up to quickly process migrants who have little realistic chance of winning asylum. It also means some asylum-seekers — likely including Syrians — will have to wait longer to bring their relatives to Germany. Laws were also approved to increase the deportations of foreigners convicted of crimes.
Lawmakers also approved plans to amend laws to increase the deportation of foreigners convicted of crimes. Germany registered nearly 1.1 million people as asylum-seekers last year and officials are keen to ensure that number is lower this year.
The EU’s executive Commission also said Thursday that it fails to understand how Hungary’s call for a national referendum on the EU’s plan for each member to get a mandatory quota of refugees from Greece and Italy could affect a decision that has already been legally made by all EU nations.
The EU plans to share 160,000 migrants arriving in overburdened Greece and Italy over two years. But so far, barely 600 people have been relocated, and only some EU nations have offered places for them — fewer than 5,000 spots in all.
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Derek Gatopoulos in Athens and David Rising and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to the story. Kantouris reported from Idomeni, Greece. Lorne Cook in Brussels, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens and David Rising and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to the story.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.