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| The Latest: EU puzzled by Hungary’s refugee referendum plan | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BERLIN — The Latest on the migrant crisis in Europe (all times local): | BERLIN — The Latest on the migrant crisis in Europe (all times local): |
| 1 p.m. | |
| The European Union’s head office says 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 resettled refugees could affect a decision that has already been made by all EU nations. | |
| Observers feel the proposal is an attempt by Prime Minister Viktor Orban to establish himself as a leader of those opposed to the EU refugee scheme. | |
| The EU plans to resettle 160,000 migrants who have arrived in overburdened Greece and Italy. 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. | |
| EU spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said EU Commission officials “fail to understand how it would fit into the decision-making process which was agreed to by all member states, including Hungary.” | |
| She added “it appears the domestic debate on this issue is ongoing.” | |
| 12:10 p.m. | 12:10 p.m. |
| Police in northern Greece say 400 mostly Syrian migrants have walked out of a transit camp near Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, and are heading toward the country’s border with Macedonia. | Police in northern Greece say 400 mostly Syrian migrants have walked out of a transit camp near Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, and are heading toward the country’s border with Macedonia. |
| Some 2,000 migrants were taken to the newly built camp on Wednesday as authorities scrambled to cope with delays at the border after Balkan countries imposed transit restrictions at the weekend. | Some 2,000 migrants were taken to the newly built camp on Wednesday as authorities scrambled to cope with delays at the border after Balkan countries imposed transit restrictions at the weekend. |
| But the 400 migrants from Syria and Iraq demanded to be allowed to leave on Thursday and began walking or seeking others means of transport to reach the border town of Idomeni, some 70 kilometers (45 miles) to the north. | But the 400 migrants from Syria and Iraq demanded to be allowed to leave on Thursday and began walking or seeking others means of transport to reach the border town of Idomeni, some 70 kilometers (45 miles) to the north. |
| Greece does not detain migrants from Syria, Iraq and several other countries considered eligible for asylum. | Greece does not detain migrants from Syria, Iraq and several other countries considered eligible for asylum. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:45 a.m. | 11:45 a.m. |
| Demolition crews are set to move into a sprawling slum camp in Calais for thousands of migrants trying to get to Britain, as French authorities try to close an embarrassing and often shocking chapter in Europe’s migrant crisis. | Demolition crews are set to move into a sprawling slum camp in Calais for thousands of migrants trying to get to Britain, as French authorities try to close an embarrassing and often shocking chapter in Europe’s migrant crisis. |
| Closing the camp — known as “the jungle” — would be the most dramatic step by the French state to end Calais’ yearslong migrant problem, which has transformed this port city into a high-security tension point, fueled far-right sentiment and defied British and French government efforts to make it go away. Critics contend that closing the camp may not solve the problem. | |
| An eviction deadline Tuesday for the camp’s southern sector came and went, with migrants and humanitarian groups trying to stave off bulldozers via a legal complaint, a letter to the interior minister and public pleas. | An eviction deadline Tuesday for the camp’s southern sector came and went, with migrants and humanitarian groups trying to stave off bulldozers via a legal complaint, a letter to the interior minister and public pleas. |
| A judge at the Administrative Court in Lille is likely to decide Thursday on a request by humanitarian groups to postpone the destruction. | A judge at the Administrative Court in Lille is likely to decide Thursday on a request by humanitarian groups to postpone the destruction. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:40 a.m. | 11:40 a.m. |
| German lawmakers have approved a package of measures meant to speed up the processing of migrants and cut the number of newcomers. | German lawmakers have approved a package of measures meant to speed up the processing of migrants and cut the number of newcomers. |
| Parliament voted 429-147 on Thursday for the package, with four abstentions. It foresees special centers being set up to quickly process migrants who have little realistic chance of winning asylum and means that some — likely including some Syrians — will have to wait longer to bring relatives to Germany. | Parliament voted 429-147 on Thursday for the package, with four abstentions. It foresees special centers being set up to quickly process migrants who have little realistic chance of winning asylum and means that some — likely including some Syrians — will have to wait longer to bring relatives to Germany. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Lawmakers also approved plans to amend laws so even a suspended prison sentence would be grounds for deportation if someone is found guilty of certain crimes including bodily harm, sexual assault or violent theft. | Lawmakers also approved plans to amend laws so even a suspended prison sentence would be grounds for deportation if someone is found guilty of certain crimes including bodily harm, sexual assault or violent theft. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:20 a.m. | 11:20 a.m. |
| France’s interior minister is criticizing Belgium for tightening border controls over concerns about a flood of migrants from a camp in France. | France’s interior minister is criticizing Belgium 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 known as the jungle. | Belgium has sent up to 290 extra police officers to their common border after French authorities moved to close a migrant camp in Calais known as the jungle. |
| French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Thursday described Belgium’s move as “a strange decision.” | French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Thursday described Belgium’s move as “a strange decision.” |
| He says such decisions can be done through dialogue, “and we can do it by informing the country concerned beforehand, which was not the case.” | He says such decisions can be done through dialogue, “and we can do it by informing the country concerned beforehand, which was not the case.” |
| Cazeneuve described work at the camp as a “humanitarian action” aimed at providing real shelter for migrants who have applied for asylum in France. He rejected fears that hundreds of migrants would move into Belgium. | Cazeneuve described work at the camp as a “humanitarian action” aimed at providing real shelter for migrants who have applied for asylum in France. He rejected fears that hundreds of migrants would move into Belgium. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:10 a.m. | 11:10 a.m. |
| Thousands of people, mainly from Syria and Iraq, remain trapped at Greece’s northern border with Macedonia after the latter drastically reduced the number of people it was allowing to cross to a trickle. | Thousands of people, mainly from Syria and Iraq, remain trapped at Greece’s northern border with Macedonia after the latter drastically reduced the number of people it was allowing to cross to a trickle. |
| About 2,800 people were waiting in a camp at the Idomeni border area Thursday, while another 800 people were about 17 kilometers (10 miles) away waiting at a roadside service station. Greek police said Macedonian authorities had allowed just 100 people to cross Thursday morning. | About 2,800 people were waiting in a camp at the Idomeni border area Thursday, while another 800 people were about 17 kilometers (10 miles) away waiting at a roadside service station. Greek police said Macedonian authorities had allowed just 100 people to cross Thursday morning. |
| Further south, dozens of families, many with young children, determined to reach the border area began walking north along a highway in central Greece after being stuck on buses due to roadblocks by farmers protesting pension reform. Police were attempting to stop the group, leading the refugees to stage a sit-in on the highway. | Further south, dozens of families, many with young children, determined to reach the border area began walking north along a highway in central Greece after being stuck on buses due to roadblocks by farmers protesting pension reform. Police were attempting to stop the group, leading the refugees to stage a sit-in on the highway. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 10:45 a.m. | 10:45 a.m. |
| Greece is maintaining its threat to take unilateral action if other EU nations take actions that would force Athens to shelter ever more migrants and refugees. | Greece is maintaining its threat to take unilateral action if other EU nations take actions that would force Athens to shelter ever more migrants and refugees. |
| Deputy Interior Minister Ioannis Mouzalas criticized a meeting in Vienna where Austria and many of its southern neighbors along the Balkan route agreed to tighter border controls and warned that sooner or later they will have to shut their doors entirely. | Deputy Interior Minister Ioannis Mouzalas criticized a meeting in Vienna where Austria and many of its southern neighbors along the Balkan route agreed to tighter border controls and warned that sooner or later they will have to shut their doors entirely. |
| The border closures would squeeze Greece in between the Balkan nations to the north and Turkey, from where most of the refugees come. With a full closure, Greece reception capacity could become overwhelmed in days. | The border closures would squeeze Greece in between the Balkan nations to the north and Turkey, from where most of the refugees come. With a full closure, Greece reception capacity could become overwhelmed in days. |
| Speaking before a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, Mouzalas said: “Greece will not accept unilateral actions. Greece, too, can take unilateral action.” | Speaking before a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, Mouzalas said: “Greece will not accept unilateral actions. Greece, too, can take unilateral action.” |
| ___ | ___ |
| 9:40 a.m. | 9:40 a.m. |
| Germany’s Parliament is debating new measures meant to speed up the handling of migrants and cut their numbers, as well as legislation making it easier to deport foreigners who commit crimes. | Germany’s Parliament is debating new measures meant to speed up the handling of migrants and cut their numbers, as well as legislation making it easier to deport foreigners who commit crimes. |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet has already approved the package of measures and they aren’t expected to meet wide resistance in Thursday’s vote. | Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet has already approved the package of measures and they aren’t expected to meet wide resistance in Thursday’s vote. |
| The plans involve using special centers to quickly process migrants who have little realistic chance of winning asylum. | The plans involve using special centers to quickly process migrants who have little realistic chance of winning asylum. |
| They’ll also amend laws so even a suspended prison sentence would be grounds for deportation if someone is found guilty of certain crimes — including bodily harm, sexual assault, violent theft or serial shoplifting. | They’ll also amend laws so even a suspended prison sentence would be grounds for deportation if someone is found guilty of certain crimes — including bodily harm, sexual assault, violent theft or serial shoplifting. |
| Those changes come after a spate of thefts and assaults on women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve, blamed largely on foreigners. | Those changes come after a spate of thefts and assaults on women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve, blamed largely on foreigners. |
| 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. |