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Europe’s harsh new message for migrants: ‘Do not come’ Europe’s harsh new message for migrants: ‘Do not come’
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — A senior European Union official carried a stark warning Thursday to the front lines of the migrant crisis, telling those seeking to flee poverty and unrest that Europe is no longer their answer.PARIS — A senior European Union official carried a stark warning Thursday to the front lines of the migrant crisis, telling those seeking to flee poverty and unrest that Europe is no longer their answer.
"Do not come to Europe," said Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, after meeting with the Greek prime minister in Athens. "Do not believe the smugglers. Do not risk your lives and your money. It is all for nothing.""Do not come to Europe," said Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, after meeting with the Greek prime minister in Athens. "Do not believe the smugglers. Do not risk your lives and your money. It is all for nothing."
His comments reflect a wider retrenchment across Europe as nations step up border controls and other barriers to halt the unprecedented stream of asylum seekers, refugees and others from conflict zones such as Iraq and Syria. He also said it was up to Turkey, not its European neighbors, to decide how to manage a reduction in refugee numbers — a stance that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu quickly rebuffed.
Tusk's comments reflect a wider retrenchment across Europe as nations step up border controls and other barriers to halt the unprecedented stream of asylum seekers, refugees and others from conflict zones such as Iraq and Syria.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged for migrant numbers to be pulled back “to a level from which we can see zero.”
[Migrants finding doors slamming shut][Migrants finding doors slamming shut]
In the past week, unrest has broken out among migrants stranded at the blockaded Macedonian border and at a makeshift camp being dismantled in France.In the past week, unrest has broken out among migrants stranded at the blockaded Macedonian border and at a makeshift camp being dismantled in France.
At the same time, NATO ships last month began patrols in the waters between Turkey and Greece — the main route for nearly 1 million migrants in the past year — in efforts to confront smuggling groups.At the same time, NATO ships last month began patrols in the waters between Turkey and Greece — the main route for nearly 1 million migrants in the past year — in efforts to confront smuggling groups.
Tusk spoke in Athens after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexi Tsipras as up to 10,000 migrants piled up at Greece’s northern border with Macedonia, which has allowed only a trickle of people to cross. Tusk first spoke in Athens after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexi Tsipras as up to 10,000 migrants piled up at Greece’s northern border with Macedonia, which has allowed only a trickle of people to cross.
On Wednesday, the European Union announced plans for an emergency 700 million euros ($763 million) in humanitarian aid, but officials across the continent are struggling to manage the largest immigration crisis on European soil since World War II.On Wednesday, the European Union announced plans for an emergency 700 million euros ($763 million) in humanitarian aid, but officials across the continent are struggling to manage the largest immigration crisis on European soil since World War II.
Tusk then traveled to Turkey’s capital Ankara to tell authorities that they must find their own solutions to cope with the flood of migrants, who have crossed Turkey for decades to reach Europe in smaller numbers. But now NATO-member Turkey faces unprecedented numbers in addition to more than 2.7 Syrian refugees who have been registered by the United Nations since Syria’s conflict began six years ago.
Turkish officials have long insisted that the West and others must share the financial and humanitarian burdens.
In France, meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President François Hollande held talks seeking to contain the migrant crisis in northern France, where thousands of refugees are camped in squalid conditions just over two hours from both London and Paris.In France, meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President François Hollande held talks seeking to contain the migrant crisis in northern France, where thousands of refugees are camped in squalid conditions just over two hours from both London and Paris.
The meeting took on added dimensions after France’s economy minister was quoted as saying that border controls could be lifted if Britain leaves the European Union, opening up a potential path for migrants seeking to cross the English Channel.The meeting took on added dimensions after France’s economy minister was quoted as saying that border controls could be lifted if Britain leaves the European Union, opening up a potential path for migrants seeking to cross the English Channel.
The talks in Amiens come days after French authorities began demolishing sections of the infamous “Jungle” encampment in Calais, home to an estimated 4,000 migrants from North Africa and the Middle East who are mostly seeking to reach Britain.The talks in Amiens come days after French authorities began demolishing sections of the infamous “Jungle” encampment in Calais, home to an estimated 4,000 migrants from North Africa and the Middle East who are mostly seeking to reach Britain.
[As “Jungle’ comes down, clashes flare up][As “Jungle’ comes down, clashes flare up]
Riots have broken out between local police and migrants, some of whom sewed their mouths shut to dramatically protest mass evictions and the destruction of their makeshift dwellings. Riots have broken out between local police and migrants, some of whom sewed their mouths shut in dramatic protest of mass evictions and the destruction of their makeshift dwellings.
In a press conference Thursday, it took Hollande several minutes to arrive at the subject of Calais. Despite the tear gas French police have used against migrants this week — and beatings that have been recorded on social media — it was imperative, he said, that the migrants who remain "be welcomed with dignity."
Paris has requested additional aid from London in managing the crisis. In advance of the summit, Harlem Désir, France’s secretary of state for European Affairs, announced Thursday on RFI radio that the figure will now include an additional 20 million euros ($21.8 million) — on top of the current 60 million euros ($65.4 million).Paris has requested additional aid from London in managing the crisis. In advance of the summit, Harlem Désir, France’s secretary of state for European Affairs, announced Thursday on RFI radio that the figure will now include an additional 20 million euros ($21.8 million) — on top of the current 60 million euros ($65.4 million).
The extra funds, he said, will help with “securing the access area to the tunnel and Calais port area” as well as “the fight against smuggling networks.” The extra funds, Désir said, will help with “securing the access area to the tunnel and Calais port area” as well as “the fight against smuggling networks.” Cameron said Thursday that the precise figure will be 17 million pounds ($24 million).
Emmanuel Macron, the French economy minister, told the Financial Times that if Britain votes to leave the European Union, the French could end a deal that allows border controls to be carried out in France. Britain is expected to hold a referendum in June on whether to leave the 28-nation bloc. He explained the money as an expression of his government's confidence in French border controls near the camps. "People should know that if they come to Calais,that is not a waiting room for getting into the United Kingdom," he said. "We have strong borders, and it’s very important people understand that."
"The day this relationship unravels, migrants will no longer be in Calais," he said. "They should be seeking asylum in France, and if they’re not asylum seekers, they should be returning to the countries from which they came," he added.
In a statement, Cameron echoed these concerns, calling the meeting “an opportunity to discuss how we can work even more closely together to keep our people safe." Although in the immediate context of the Calais crisis, the summit in Amiens was ultimately an attempt for both leaders to illustrate the imperative of Britain remaining in he European Union. Britain is expected to hold a referendum in June on whether to leave the 28-nation bloc.
“I am convinced that the U.K.'s membership of the E.U. gives us greater security and greater capacity to project power globally," he said. Before Thursday's talks began, Emmanuel Macron, the French economy minister, told the Financial Times that if Britain votes to leave the European Union, the French could end a deal that allows border controls to be carried out in France.
[The anti-E.U. video that’s “so bad it’s absolutely fantastic”]
Macron was largely referring to the treaty of Le Touquet, a bilateral agreement from 2003 that allows British immigration checkpoints at Channel ferry ports such Calais and Dunkirk and French checkpoints at Dover. In light of the migrant camps in northern France, far-right French politicians such as Marine Le-Pen have also called for the border to be pushed back across the channel to Dover.
"The day this relationship unravels, migrants will no longer be in Calais," Macron said.
Campaigners for a British exit, dubbed “Brexit,” dismissed the warnings as “propaganda.”Campaigners for a British exit, dubbed “Brexit,” dismissed the warnings as “propaganda.”
Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative lawmaker who is campaigning for Brexit, told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program: “What we are having now is propaganda being produced by other European governments at the request of the prime minister to try to scare people.”Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative lawmaker who is campaigning for Brexit, told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program: “What we are having now is propaganda being produced by other European governments at the request of the prime minister to try to scare people.”
But Macron's comments suggest that Cameron's warnings were not entirely political. In the press conference after the summit, Cameron said it was well worth “listening” to warnings from people like Macron “rather than trying to pretend it’s part of some giant conspiracy.”
For his part, Hollande urged the people of Britain not to leave the European Union. "I don't want to scare you," he said, "but there will be consequences if the U.K. decides to leave the E.U."
In a seeming allusion to David Cameron's 2012 invitation to French firms looking to avoid heightened French taxes, Macron reiterated Brexit's economic consequences: "If I were to reason like those who roll out red carpets," he told The Financial Times, "I would say we might have some repatriations from the City of London."
With less than four months until the referendum, that economic debate is in full swing.
In the last 24 hours, for instance, more than 200 small business owners called for a British exit, saying it would free them from red tape. On the other side of the fence, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, whose parent company is the German-owned BMW, sent emails to its staff in Britain stressing the benefits of E.U. membership.
In addition to emphasizing the national security benefits the U.K. receives by remaining in the E.U., Cameron also announced that Britain and France were investing 1.5 billion pounds in advanced drone technology together.
“I am convinced that the U.K.'s membership of the E.U. gives us greater security and greater capacity to project power globally," he said in a statement.
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.