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Europe Turns Its Eye to Migration Policies, Amid Another Sea Rescue Europe Turns Its Eye to Migration Policies, Amid Another Sea Rescue
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders agreed Friday on a timetable for overhauling the bloc’s policy on migration and asylum just hours after the scale and urgency of the challenge was brought into stark focus by the rescue of more than 700 refugees overnight near Sicily. BRUSSELS — European Union leaders agreed Friday on a timetable for overhauling the bloc’s policy on migration and asylum just hours after the scale and urgency of the challenge were brought into stark focus by the rescue of more than 700 refugees overnight near Sicily.
The plan — to make an assessment of the bloc’s needs by early December and to review the rules by the middle of next year — was decided at the end of a two-day summit meeting held in the wake of the deaths of about 360 Africans near the Italian island of Lampedusa this month.The plan — to make an assessment of the bloc’s needs by early December and to review the rules by the middle of next year — was decided at the end of a two-day summit meeting held in the wake of the deaths of about 360 Africans near the Italian island of Lampedusa this month.
The leaders, including President François Hollande of France, said that by the end of the year, individual member states would dedicate more equipment like aircraft and boats to a collective effort to patrol the Mediterranean Sea.The leaders, including President François Hollande of France, said that by the end of the year, individual member states would dedicate more equipment like aircraft and boats to a collective effort to patrol the Mediterranean Sea.
The leaders plan to meet again in June to discuss “asylum and migration issues in a broader and longer-term policy perspective” as well as “strategic guidelines for further legislative and operational planning,” according to a final statement issued Friday by the European Council, which represents the 28 leaders.The leaders plan to meet again in June to discuss “asylum and migration issues in a broader and longer-term policy perspective” as well as “strategic guidelines for further legislative and operational planning,” according to a final statement issued Friday by the European Council, which represents the 28 leaders.
Human rights groups immediately condemned the agreement as lacking extra money or equipment to save lives.Human rights groups immediately condemned the agreement as lacking extra money or equipment to save lives.
Even so, Prime Minister Enrico Letta of Italy hailed the agreement as sign of solidarity with his country after “much lack of attention to face the drama of the Mediterranean.” Mr. Letta said that leaders “reached the key result that the issue has become a European issue, not simply an Italian issue, or Maltese, or Greek.” Even so, Prime Minister Enrico Letta of Italy hailed the agreement as sign of solidarity with his country after “much lack of attention to face the drama of the Mediterranean.” Mr. Letta said leaders had “reached the key result that the issue has become a European issue, not simply an Italian issue, or Maltese, or Greek.”
The final agreement included a good deal of the language sought by southern countries including Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain including a reference to a “fair sharing” of responsibility for countering the continuing migratory pressures. The final agreement contained a good deal of the language sought by southern countries like Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain, including a reference to a “fair sharing” of responsibility for countering the continuing migratory pressures.
Malta’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, described the large numbers of immigrants arriving on his shores, including many Eritreans and Somalis, as posing “a question of survival” for his country, according to a senior European Union official who briefed journalists on the condition of anonymity because the talks between the leaders were private. Malta’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, described the large numbers of immigrants arriving on his shores, including many Eritreans and Somalis, as posing “a question of survival” for his country, according to a senior European Union official who briefed journalists on the condition of anonymity because the talks among the leaders were private.
Some leaders were particularly concerned that continuing unrest in Syria would prompt more immigrants to Bulgaria and Greece who would then travel to other parts of Europe, the official said. “Especially on Syria, there is this perspective it will not stop,” the official said.Some leaders were particularly concerned that continuing unrest in Syria would prompt more immigrants to Bulgaria and Greece who would then travel to other parts of Europe, the official said. “Especially on Syria, there is this perspective it will not stop,” the official said.
The overnight rescues involved Italian naval and coast guard vessels that saved 705 people, including dozens of women and children, from five different boats in the waters between Sicily and North Africa, according to news reports. The overnight rescues involved Italian naval and coast guard vessels that saved 705 people, including dozens of women and children, from five boats in the waters between Sicily and North Africa, according to news reports.
It was the latest development in a growing crisis that prompted Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, to add migration to the agenda of the summit meeting, which was originally dedicated to digital issues that had by late Wednesday become overshadowed by reports that American intelligence agents monitored the cellphone of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.It was the latest development in a growing crisis that prompted Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, to add migration to the agenda of the summit meeting, which was originally dedicated to digital issues that had by late Wednesday become overshadowed by reports that American intelligence agents monitored the cellphone of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.
Despite the furor over the allegations of spying, the leaders spent much of Friday morning discussing migration. But they soon bogged down in long-running disagreements over sharing the burden.Despite the furor over the allegations of spying, the leaders spent much of Friday morning discussing migration. But they soon bogged down in long-running disagreements over sharing the burden.
Under the current system, migrants must be accepted and processed in the member state where they first arrive.Under the current system, migrants must be accepted and processed in the member state where they first arrive.
Asked about demands by countries like Italy that this procedure be changed to allow the processing of migrants in other parts of the bloc, Ms. Merkel said that was, for now, impossible.Asked about demands by countries like Italy that this procedure be changed to allow the processing of migrants in other parts of the bloc, Ms. Merkel said that was, for now, impossible.
“So far we have not yet changed the rules on accepting refugees and we have not discussed this question of quota,” the chancellor said Friday afternoon, adding, “I think we ought to take some more time and reflect about this.” Far larger numbers of asylum seekers have been settled recently in the Union’s northern member states compared with southern countries, where welfare systems are strained and leaders face acute pressure to take a tough stance on issues like border control to stem the growing appeal of anti-immigrant parties. “So far we have not yet changed the rules on accepting refugees, and we have not discussed this question of quota,” the chancellor said Friday afternoon, adding, “I think we ought to take some more time and reflect about this.”
Even as the latest wave of migration from North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East shows little sign of letting up, concerns about the political challenge posed by anti-immigrant parties could grow even more acute before the planned summit meeting on migration and asylum in June if far-right parties do as well as expected in elections to the European Parliament in May. Far larger numbers of asylum seekers have been settled recently in the union’s northern member states than in southern countries, where welfare systems are strained and leaders face acute pressure to take a tough stance on issues like border control to stem the growing appeal of anti-immigrant parties.
Migratory pressure over the summer was comparable to that in the summer of 2011, when civil unrest in Tunisia and Libya led over the course of that year to about 60,000 arrivals on the Central Mediterranean route, according to Frontex, the Union’s border security agency, which relies on financing from the bloc’s governments to pay for surveillance equipment like planes and boats. Even as the latest wave of migration from North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East shows little sign of letting up, concerns about the political challenge posed by anti-immigrant parties could grow even more acute before the planned summit meeting on migration and asylum in June if far-right parties do as well as expected in elections for the European Parliament in May.
Migratory pressure over the summer was comparable to that in the summer of 2011, when civil unrest in Tunisia and Libya led over the course of that year to about 60,000 arrivals on the Central Mediterranean route, according to Frontex, the union’s border security agency, which relies on financing from the bloc’s governments to pay for surveillance equipment like planes and boats.
Monitoring groups like Amnesty International condemned the summit meeting’s outcome as grossly inadequate for the task of protecting vulnerable migrants. Many make the journey aboard overcrowded, ill-equipped wooden fishing boats that have poor engines and navigation systems and that are prone to sinking or capsizing in high seas.Monitoring groups like Amnesty International condemned the summit meeting’s outcome as grossly inadequate for the task of protecting vulnerable migrants. Many make the journey aboard overcrowded, ill-equipped wooden fishing boats that have poor engines and navigation systems and that are prone to sinking or capsizing in high seas.
“Not one single measure mentioned in the council conclusions will prevent further loss of life in the Mediterranean Sea,” Nicolas Beger, director of the European institutions office for Amnesty International, said in a statement on Friday. “Instead, the proposed measures focus yet again on enhanced border surveillance, which will simply lead to people taking riskier routes to reach Europe.”“Not one single measure mentioned in the council conclusions will prevent further loss of life in the Mediterranean Sea,” Nicolas Beger, director of the European institutions office for Amnesty International, said in a statement on Friday. “Instead, the proposed measures focus yet again on enhanced border surveillance, which will simply lead to people taking riskier routes to reach Europe.”
Amnesty International was particularly critical of leaders for failing to make an explicit pledge to put more efforts into search and rescue operations and open safe routes for refugees to Europe.Amnesty International was particularly critical of leaders for failing to make an explicit pledge to put more efforts into search and rescue operations and open safe routes for refugees to Europe.