This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/world/europe/european-union-migrant-crisis-quotas-italy-greece.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
In Testy Debate, E.U. Leaders Fail to Agree on Quotas to Spread Migrants Across Bloc In Testy Debate, E.U. Leaders Fail to Agree on Quotas to Spread Migrants Across Bloc
(about 5 hours later)
BRUSSELS — Facing a migration crisis that has infused Europe’s usually arid and consensual decision-making with angry passions, European leaders ended an ill-tempered discussion early Friday about what to do with a vague pledge to spread 40,000 migrants around the Continent. BRUSSELS — Facing a migration crisis that has infused Europe’s usually arid and consensual decision-making with angry passions, European leaders ended an ill-tempered discussion early Friday about what to do with a vague pledge to spread 40,000 migrants around the Continent.
But they ditched what had been the heart of a plan to share a burden now borne largely by Greece and Italy — a system of mandatory quotas to spread the tens of thousands of migrants in the two countries across the European Union. But they scrapped what had been the heart of a plan to share a burden now borne largely by Greece and Italy — a system of mandatory quotas to spread the tens of thousands of migrants, now in the two countries, across the European Union.
Heated arguments among leaders at a two-day summit meeting in Brussels exposed deep divisions and even disarray in a European bloc already badly strained by the repeated failure of talks to prevent a default next week by Greece.Heated arguments among leaders at a two-day summit meeting in Brussels exposed deep divisions and even disarray in a European bloc already badly strained by the repeated failure of talks to prevent a default next week by Greece.
The intersection of the Greek debt crisis and the migration issue also underscored the dangers to the European Union of a potentially bankrupt and destabilized Greece on the front line of what has been an extraordinary surge of migrants to eastern Greek islands from Turkey. Many of them are fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.The intersection of the Greek debt crisis and the migration issue also underscored the dangers to the European Union of a potentially bankrupt and destabilized Greece on the front line of what has been an extraordinary surge of migrants to eastern Greek islands from Turkey. Many of them are fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In recent weeks, standoffs with migrants at Europe’s internal borders have led to bitter squabbling among governments and screaming headlines in newspapers, particularly in Britain, about trouble caused by desperate people seeking a better life. In recent weeks, standoffs with migrants at Europe’s internal borders have led to squabbling among governments and screaming headlines in newspapers, particularly in Britain, about trouble caused by desperate people seeking a better life.
Migrants who enter the European Union in Italy and Greece often seek to reach — and are blocked from — preferred destinations farther north in Europe, where they hope for better job prospects and more generous government benefits.Migrants who enter the European Union in Italy and Greece often seek to reach — and are blocked from — preferred destinations farther north in Europe, where they hope for better job prospects and more generous government benefits.
Hundreds of migrants were camped out in recent weeks at a crossing between Italy and France, after French border officials denied them entry, and officials at the French port of Calais struggled once again this week to prevent surges of migrants from smuggling onto trucks bound for Britain that use the tunnel crossing the English Channel.Hundreds of migrants were camped out in recent weeks at a crossing between Italy and France, after French border officials denied them entry, and officials at the French port of Calais struggled once again this week to prevent surges of migrants from smuggling onto trucks bound for Britain that use the tunnel crossing the English Channel.
Even so, just hours after finance ministers representing 19 countries that use the euro again failed to break the deadlock between Greece and its creditors, European Union leaders killed proposals that would have forced each country to take a certain number of asylum seekers, opting for a voluntary program instead.Even so, just hours after finance ministers representing 19 countries that use the euro again failed to break the deadlock between Greece and its creditors, European Union leaders killed proposals that would have forced each country to take a certain number of asylum seekers, opting for a voluntary program instead.
A final statement adopted Friday committed all 28 member states to “agree by consensus by the end of July” on how to distribute across Europe the 40,000 people now in Italy and Greece who are “in clear need of international protection.”A final statement adopted Friday committed all 28 member states to “agree by consensus by the end of July” on how to distribute across Europe the 40,000 people now in Italy and Greece who are “in clear need of international protection.”
It described this as a “temporary and exceptional” measure.It described this as a “temporary and exceptional” measure.
Leaders have found broad consensus on taking stronger measures on interdiction, endorsing a stalled military operation “to tackle the traffickers and smugglers in accordance with international law,” and reinforcing controls on Europe’s external borders “to better contain the growing flows of illegal migration.”Leaders have found broad consensus on taking stronger measures on interdiction, endorsing a stalled military operation “to tackle the traffickers and smugglers in accordance with international law,” and reinforcing controls on Europe’s external borders “to better contain the growing flows of illegal migration.”
The most dangerous route taken by migrants is across the central Mediterranean from Libya and other parts of North Africa. Flows there increased by 29 percent over April, according to Frontex, a European agency that helps patrol the bloc’s outer borders.The most dangerous route taken by migrants is across the central Mediterranean from Libya and other parts of North Africa. Flows there increased by 29 percent over April, according to Frontex, a European agency that helps patrol the bloc’s outer borders.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, whose country supported the mandatory quota system, voiced alarm early Friday at the stakes involved in a migrant crisis created by a flood of people fleeing conflict and desperate poverty in the Middle East and Africa. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, whose country supported the mandatory quota system, voiced alarm Friday over the migrant crisis created by a flood of people fleeing conflict and desperate poverty in the Middle East and Africa.
“With the migration question, we are facing the biggest challenge for the European Union that I have seen during my term in office,” Ms. Merkel said.“With the migration question, we are facing the biggest challenge for the European Union that I have seen during my term in office,” Ms. Merkel said.
There are far fewer migrants in Europe than in Turkey and Lebanon, which have taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees. Europe’s halting and cantankerous response to the migrants’ plight has dismayed United Nations officials and advocacy groups for immigrants.There are far fewer migrants in Europe than in Turkey and Lebanon, which have taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees. Europe’s halting and cantankerous response to the migrants’ plight has dismayed United Nations officials and advocacy groups for immigrants.
“There’s no question that more is going to have to be done,” said Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency in Geneva. “We are in the thick of the biggest forced displacement crisis of our era. We need answers that are commensurate with that.” “There’s no question that more is going to have to be done,” said Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency. “We are in the thick of the biggest forced displacement crisis of our era. We need answers that are commensurate with that.”
He added: “What we think is important is that there’s a collective response. These approaches of going it alone are no answer to asylum problems.”He added: “What we think is important is that there’s a collective response. These approaches of going it alone are no answer to asylum problems.”
The issue of migrants, which triggered violent racist protests last weekend in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, and has helped fuel extremist political groups across Europe, has laid bare a fundamental and explosive tension at the heart of the so-called European Project — a six-decade push for greater integration that aims for “ever-closer union” but leaves intact the sovereign power of individual states on key issues like immigration. The issue of migrants, which set off violent racist protests last weekend in Slovakia and has helped fuel extremist political groups across Europe, has laid bare a fundamental and explosive tension at the heart of the so-called European Project — a six-decade push for greater integration that aims for “ever closer union” but leaves intact the sovereign power of individual states on key issues like immigration.
Elizabeth Collett, director of the Migration Policy Institute Europe, a research group in Brussels, said Europe was caught in a “halfway house,” torn between a commitment to a Europe without border controls for Europeans and individual countries’ determination to control their own frontiers and manage their own national asylum systems.Elizabeth Collett, director of the Migration Policy Institute Europe, a research group in Brussels, said Europe was caught in a “halfway house,” torn between a commitment to a Europe without border controls for Europeans and individual countries’ determination to control their own frontiers and manage their own national asylum systems.
“Everyone now recognizes that the status quo is unworkable, but here are 28 different views on what to do about it,” Ms. Collett said. She added that there was an increased “political will” to deal with the migrant crisis, but “this will travels in many different directions.”“Everyone now recognizes that the status quo is unworkable, but here are 28 different views on what to do about it,” Ms. Collett said. She added that there was an increased “political will” to deal with the migrant crisis, but “this will travels in many different directions.”
Since the start of the year, according to Frontex, about 153,000 migrants tried to enter Europe, a 149 percent increase over the same period last year. Many of them landed in Italy and Greece after dangerous trips across the Mediterranean from North Africa, a journey that has cost the lives of more than 1,800 people so far in 2015.Since the start of the year, according to Frontex, about 153,000 migrants tried to enter Europe, a 149 percent increase over the same period last year. Many of them landed in Italy and Greece after dangerous trips across the Mediterranean from North Africa, a journey that has cost the lives of more than 1,800 people so far in 2015.
In recent months, however, there has also been a surge of migrants along land routes through the Balkans to Hungary, which detected more than 50,000 migrants from January to the end of May, an increase of 880 percent over the same period last year.In recent months, however, there has also been a surge of migrants along land routes through the Balkans to Hungary, which detected more than 50,000 migrants from January to the end of May, an increase of 880 percent over the same period last year.
Hungary has nonetheless been one of the strongest critics of attempts to forge a united response, with its prime minister, Victor Orban, declaring recently, “I don’t believe in a European solution.” Instead, he wants Hungary to build a 13-foot-high fence along its border with Serbia, which is not a member of the European Union but is a major transit route for migrants.Hungary has nonetheless been one of the strongest critics of attempts to forge a united response, with its prime minister, Victor Orban, declaring recently, “I don’t believe in a European solution.” Instead, he wants Hungary to build a 13-foot-high fence along its border with Serbia, which is not a member of the European Union but is a major transit route for migrants.
In an effort to develop a unified response to the crisis, the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm in Brussels, last month announced a plan for mandatory quotas that would force individual states to accept migrants currently in Italy and Greece. But this immediately met with fierce hostility, notably in eastern and Central Europe, where leaders denounced the scheme as a violation of their sovereignty. In an effort to develop a unified response to the crisis, the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm in Brussels, last month announced a plan for mandatory quotas that would force individual states to accept migrants currently in Italy and Greece. But this immediately met with fierce hostility, notably in Eastern and Central Europe, where leaders denounced the scheme as a violation of their sovereignty.
Britain, which has the right to opt out of the bloc’s migrant policy, along with Denmark and Ireland, has also criticized the plan, which has been seized on by British politicians who want Britain to leave the European Union. Leaders meeting in Brussels interrupted their arguments over the migrant issue late Thursday to hear a brief presentation from Britain’s prime minister, David Cameron, about his plans to hold a referendum next year on whether to stay in the European Union. During the talks, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy protested that a nonbinding pledge to take in migrants would achieve nothing.
But it was the migrant issue that dominated the talks, with the leader of Lithuania, an opponent of mandatory quotas, clashing with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy, who protested that a nonbinding pledge to take in migrants would achieve nothing. “If this is your idea of Europe, you can keep it,” Mr. Renzi told fellow leaders, according to Italian news reports. “Either there’s solidarity or we are wasting time.”
“If this is your idea of Europe, you can keep it,” Mr. Renzi told fellow leaders, according to Italian news reports. “Either there’s solidarity or we are wasting time.
“If you want a voluntary agreement, you can cancel the whole thing; we’ll do it by ourselves,” he said.
A pilot project in 2011 aimed at helping lift the burden on Malta, a Mediterranean nation that has been flooded with asylum seekers, was based on voluntary pledges to take in migrants from other European states. It has been widely characterized as a failure.A pilot project in 2011 aimed at helping lift the burden on Malta, a Mediterranean nation that has been flooded with asylum seekers, was based on voluntary pledges to take in migrants from other European states. It has been widely characterized as a failure.
The European Asylum Support Office, in a 2012 report on the Malta project, found that only 227 people had been relocated to other European Union countries in the initial phase, with Germany and France taking about 100 each and countries like Poland, Slovakia and Romania taking none. President François Hollande of France acknowledged at a news conference early Friday that discussions had been “long and introduced several moments of tension.” But officials insisted that even without mandatory quotas, Europe would manage to relocate 40,000 migrants from Italy and Greece in the next two years. About 20,000 people sheltered in camps outside Europe would also be accommodated within the European Union, they said.
President François Hollande of France acknowledged at a news conference early Friday that discussions had been “long and introduced several moments of tension.” But officials insisted that even without mandatory quotas, Europe would manage to relocate 40,000 migrants from Italy and Greece in the next two years. An additional 20,000 people sheltered in camps outside Europe would also be accommodated within the European Union, they said.
Some leaders and officials complained that the seemingly interminable negotiations over Greece’s financial troubles had consumed so much energy and time that they had hampered Europe’s response to issues such as migration.
Bulgaria’s prime minister, Boyko Borissov, said his country wanted to help Greece, its southern and richer neighbor, but added “we also have problems we want Europe to hear about. It is not only them.”
Mr. Edwards, the United Nations refugee spokesman, said Europe needed to do more than take in more migrants. It also needs to help address the root causes of migrant flows, tackle trafficking networks and improve a system under which asylum seekers are processed in the country in which they arrive.Mr. Edwards, the United Nations refugee spokesman, said Europe needed to do more than take in more migrants. It also needs to help address the root causes of migrant flows, tackle trafficking networks and improve a system under which asylum seekers are processed in the country in which they arrive.
European foreign ministers on Monday approved a naval operation to halt the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean, but this will be limited to intelligence gathering as efforts to get authorization from the United Nations for military action to disrupt smuggling rings have so far failed.European foreign ministers on Monday approved a naval operation to halt the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean, but this will be limited to intelligence gathering as efforts to get authorization from the United Nations for military action to disrupt smuggling rings have so far failed.
The plan for a military response has also run into obstacles from Libya’s internationally recognized government, which, despite having only tenuous control of parts of the country, has said it could not tolerate any European violations of its sovereignty.The plan for a military response has also run into obstacles from Libya’s internationally recognized government, which, despite having only tenuous control of parts of the country, has said it could not tolerate any European violations of its sovereignty.