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May calls for caution over migration 'pull factors' at EU summit May calls for caution over migration 'pull factors' at EU summit
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has told her fellow EU leaders that Europe should not “inadvertently increase the pull factors” for migrants and refugees seeking to cross the Mediterranean, at a summit in Malta where she will also discuss her meeting with Donald Trump.Theresa May has told her fellow EU leaders that Europe should not “inadvertently increase the pull factors” for migrants and refugees seeking to cross the Mediterranean, at a summit in Malta where she will also discuss her meeting with Donald Trump.
May is likely to face a somewhat sceptical audience in the talks about the new US president, with her enthusiasm for seeking close ties with his administration seemingly not shared by other leaders.May is likely to face a somewhat sceptical audience in the talks about the new US president, with her enthusiasm for seeking close ties with his administration seemingly not shared by other leaders.
Several expressed concerns about Trump upon arriving in Valletta, with France’s François Hollande calling Trump’s predictions that the EU could break up “unacceptable”.Several expressed concerns about Trump upon arriving in Valletta, with France’s François Hollande calling Trump’s predictions that the EU could break up “unacceptable”.
The summit is officially focused on the Mediterranean migration crisis. In the three months to the end of January 1,354 migrants and refugees drowned trying to reach Europe, the highest number for such a period.The summit is officially focused on the Mediterranean migration crisis. In the three months to the end of January 1,354 migrants and refugees drowned trying to reach Europe, the highest number for such a period.
A day after the government published its Brexit white paper, EU leaders will also be looking to the prime minister for reassurance that the UK will not drop international cooperation after it leaves the bloc.A day after the government published its Brexit white paper, EU leaders will also be looking to the prime minister for reassurance that the UK will not drop international cooperation after it leaves the bloc.
At the morning session of the summit, May said the EU should seek to replicate the example of assistance to Turkey in keeping refugees and migrants from Syria and other nations nearer their homes, and offer particular support to Libya, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.At the morning session of the summit, May said the EU should seek to replicate the example of assistance to Turkey in keeping refugees and migrants from Syria and other nations nearer their homes, and offer particular support to Libya, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
May called for efforts to improve conditions for migrants, support for assisted return and the introduction of tougher penalties for traffickers.May called for efforts to improve conditions for migrants, support for assisted return and the introduction of tougher penalties for traffickers.
The spokeswoman said: “Second, she said that in all we do we must be careful not to inadvertently increase the pull factors encouraging people to risk their lives to reach Europe.”The spokeswoman said: “Second, she said that in all we do we must be careful not to inadvertently increase the pull factors encouraging people to risk their lives to reach Europe.”
May “said that we have played a central part in tackling this crisis and the EU can count on us to remain a reliable partner”, the spokeswoman added.May “said that we have played a central part in tackling this crisis and the EU can count on us to remain a reliable partner”, the spokeswoman added.
The British government’s initiative is part of the so-called Malta declaration agreed by all the members of the EU, designed to reduce the numbers travelling and dying on their way to Europe.
The focus of the efforts of the European council, whose membership is comprised of the 28 EU states, has switched in recent months to preventing huge movements of people coming through a central Mediterranean route, after arrivals last year from the eastern Mediterranean decreased to one-third of the levels of 2015.
An EU source said the vast majority of those coming through the central Mediterranean were economic migrants from Africa – particularly Nigeria – rather than those fleeing the Syrian conflict.
A statement from the council said the focus would be on training, providing equipment and supporting the Libyan national coastguard.
There will also be a focus on disrupting “the business model of smugglers through enhanced operational action”. The EU is also looking to improve the ability of Libyan communities to deal with the inflow of migrants and to help the International Organisation for Migration in aiding “voluntary returns” of those who have arrived in the country.
After the morning session May joined the other leaders for a guided walkabout of Valletta’s historic centre, where she spent much of the first section walking with Angela Merkel, immersed in conversation.After the morning session May joined the other leaders for a guided walkabout of Valletta’s historic centre, where she spent much of the first section walking with Angela Merkel, immersed in conversation.
May did not answer questions from journalists, but smiled and waved at British tourists who shouted greetings as she went past.May did not answer questions from journalists, but smiled and waved at British tourists who shouted greetings as she went past.
May was among the few leaders not to speak to the media as she arrived at the summit, and unlike most of them she is not scheduled to hold a press conference before she leaves early.May was among the few leaders not to speak to the media as she arrived at the summit, and unlike most of them she is not scheduled to hold a press conference before she leaves early.
Likely to be the most significant event of the day for May will be talks with Merkel after lunch, at which the pair are likely to discuss their differing views of Trump – the German chancellor has been notably less effusive about the new US administration – and the prognosis for Brexit.Likely to be the most significant event of the day for May will be talks with Merkel after lunch, at which the pair are likely to discuss their differing views of Trump – the German chancellor has been notably less effusive about the new US administration – and the prognosis for Brexit.
May had talks in the morning with the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, and Christian Kern, the Austrian chancellor.May had talks in the morning with the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, and Christian Kern, the Austrian chancellor.
May “reiterated our desire to have a strong partnership with the EU in future, including cooperation on trade, security and home affairs”, a Downing Street source said after the talks.May “reiterated our desire to have a strong partnership with the EU in future, including cooperation on trade, security and home affairs”, a Downing Street source said after the talks.
May is also due to brief European leaders in Valletta about her visit to Washington to see Trump, and what May says is the US president’s renewed commitment to Nato. She is expected to stress the need for other Nato members to meet the commitment of spending 2% of their GDP on defence, “so that the burden is more fairly shared”.May is also due to brief European leaders in Valletta about her visit to Washington to see Trump, and what May says is the US president’s renewed commitment to Nato. She is expected to stress the need for other Nato members to meet the commitment of spending 2% of their GDP on defence, “so that the burden is more fairly shared”.
The summit, held at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, will be May’s first encounter with the other EU leaders since a meeting in Bratislava in December where at one pointMay was pictured standing alone as they chatted around her.The summit, held at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, will be May’s first encounter with the other EU leaders since a meeting in Bratislava in December where at one pointMay was pictured standing alone as they chatted around her.
When May leaves Valletta after lunch, the remaining 27 EU leaders will stay to discuss how Brexit can be handled, and preparations for next month’s 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which set up the EU’s precursor, the European Economic Community.When May leaves Valletta after lunch, the remaining 27 EU leaders will stay to discuss how Brexit can be handled, and preparations for next month’s 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which set up the EU’s precursor, the European Economic Community.
The summit comes amid a busy period of international meetings for May. After last week’s high-profile visit to Washington to see Trump, she held talks in Ankara with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On Monday, she is due to host the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at Downing Street.The summit comes amid a busy period of international meetings for May. After last week’s high-profile visit to Washington to see Trump, she held talks in Ankara with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On Monday, she is due to host the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at Downing Street.
In a letter this week to EU leaders, Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said the treaty anniversary would be a chance to “strongly reiterate these two basic, yet forgotten, truths: firstly, we have united in order to avoid another historic catastrophe, and secondly, that the times of European unity have been the best times in all of Europe’s centuries-long history.”In a letter this week to EU leaders, Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said the treaty anniversary would be a chance to “strongly reiterate these two basic, yet forgotten, truths: firstly, we have united in order to avoid another historic catastrophe, and secondly, that the times of European unity have been the best times in all of Europe’s centuries-long history.”
He added: “It must be made crystal clear that the disintegration of the European Union will not lead to the restoration of some mythical, full sovereignty of its member states, but to their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China. Only together can we be fully independent.”He added: “It must be made crystal clear that the disintegration of the European Union will not lead to the restoration of some mythical, full sovereignty of its member states, but to their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China. Only together can we be fully independent.”