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European Union Asks Member Countries to Accept Quotas of Migrants European Union Asks Member Countries to Accept Quotas of Migrants
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — The European Union authorities appealed to the bloc’s member states on Wednesday to accept quotas of migrants to relieve the burden on southern states like Italy and Greece that are the main landing points for the surging numbers of people crossing the Mediterranean Sea.BRUSSELS — The European Union authorities appealed to the bloc’s member states on Wednesday to accept quotas of migrants to relieve the burden on southern states like Italy and Greece that are the main landing points for the surging numbers of people crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
The proposal by the European Commission, the Brussels-based executive arm of the European Union, is a response to concerns that the bloc’s southern coastal states could become overwhelmed by the inflow of migrants making the dangerous crossing in often rickety and unseaworthy vessels.The proposal by the European Commission, the Brussels-based executive arm of the European Union, is a response to concerns that the bloc’s southern coastal states could become overwhelmed by the inflow of migrants making the dangerous crossing in often rickety and unseaworthy vessels.
The recent deaths of thousands of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean prompted the bloc to draft the emergency response to stave off a worsening of the humanitarian crisis.The recent deaths of thousands of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean prompted the bloc to draft the emergency response to stave off a worsening of the humanitarian crisis.
But a large number of member states including Britain, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Latvia have already pushed back against the idea of mandatory quotas. In an effort to make the plans more acceptable, the commission said any migrants who did not meet asylum criteria would not be allowed to stay.But a large number of member states including Britain, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Latvia have already pushed back against the idea of mandatory quotas. In an effort to make the plans more acceptable, the commission said any migrants who did not meet asylum criteria would not be allowed to stay.
“Everyone who needs sanctuary should find it in Europe,” said Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the commission. “But those who have no justified claim should be quickly identified and returned to their home country,” he said.“Everyone who needs sanctuary should find it in Europe,” said Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the commission. “But those who have no justified claim should be quickly identified and returned to their home country,” he said.
The proposal for the quotas, which are expected to be high on the agenda at a summit of European Union leaders on June 26, consists of two parts. The approval of a two-thirds majority of member states under the European Union’s weighted voting system will be needed before any mandatory rules take effect. The proposal for the quotas, which are expected to be high on the agenda at a summit meeting of European Union leaders on June 26, consists of two parts. The approval of a two-thirds majority of member states under the European Union’s weighted voting system will be needed before any mandatory rules take effect.
The British and Irish have the option not to participate in the mandatory quota system under existing agreements with the European Union, but others, including the Czechs and other Eastern and Central Europeans, would need to try to mount enough opposition to block approval. The Danes are exempted from participation in most European Union asylum rules.The British and Irish have the option not to participate in the mandatory quota system under existing agreements with the European Union, but others, including the Czechs and other Eastern and Central Europeans, would need to try to mount enough opposition to block approval. The Danes are exempted from participation in most European Union asylum rules.
The first quota is an emergency plan to temporarily relocate 40,000 migrants arriving in Italy and Greece to other states across the European Union during the next two years under a mandatory system. Those migrants, expected to be from Syria and Eritrea, would remain in Europe while they underwent asylum review to determine whether they could stay.The first quota is an emergency plan to temporarily relocate 40,000 migrants arriving in Italy and Greece to other states across the European Union during the next two years under a mandatory system. Those migrants, expected to be from Syria and Eritrea, would remain in Europe while they underwent asylum review to determine whether they could stay.
A second quota plan would resettle 20,000 refugees — these could include Syrians from camps in Lebanon and Turkey — over two years across the European Union. Candidates for the resettlement program would be identified by the United Nations refugee authorities. Participation in that system is expected to be voluntary for European Union countries.A second quota plan would resettle 20,000 refugees — these could include Syrians from camps in Lebanon and Turkey — over two years across the European Union. Candidates for the resettlement program would be identified by the United Nations refugee authorities. Participation in that system is expected to be voluntary for European Union countries.
Under a distribution system based on the capacity of countries to accept migrants, France and Germany would take the most people under both of the quota systems.Under a distribution system based on the capacity of countries to accept migrants, France and Germany would take the most people under both of the quota systems.
The quotas are just part of the response that Europeans have considered to deal with a migrant crisis that has been made more acute by the instability in Libya, a frequent launching point for smugglers who often earn thousands of dollars for each passenger. The country has become ungovernable since Western powers backed a revolt that ousted Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi four years ago. The quotas are just part of the response that Europeans have considered to deal with a migrant crisis that has been made more acute by the instability in Libya, a frequent launching point for smugglers, who often earn thousands of dollars for each passenger. The country has become ungovernable since Western powers backed a revolt that ousted Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi four years ago.
This month, European foreign and defense ministers agreed to use military force to disable or sink smugglers’ vessels in order break up their business networks. But European officials still need to answer numerous questions about how naval forces would operate in Libyan waters — including whether those forces would take migrants rescued near African shores back to Libya or to Europe for asylum review. This month, European foreign and defense ministers agreed to use military force to disable or sink smugglers’ vessels in order to break up their business networks. But European officials still need to answer numerous questions about how naval forces would operate in Libyan waters — including whether those forces would take migrants rescued near African shores back to Libya or to Europe for asylum review.
The crisis is an extremely sensitive issue at a time when immigration has climbed the political agenda in many countries, including Britain and France. Countries like the Czech Republic say they have already absorbed large numbers of migrants from Ukraine and are not prepared to accept many more from other regions. The crisis is an extremely delicate issue at a time when immigration has climbed the political agenda in many countries, including Britain and France. Countries like the Czech Republic say they have already absorbed large numbers of migrants from Ukraine and are not prepared to accept many more from other regions.