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Europe set for bruising battle over sharing refugee burden Europe set for bruising battle over sharing refugee burden
(about 1 hour later)
Eastern European leaders have rejected calls from Berlin, Paris, and Brussels for a concerted and binding policy of sharing refugees across the EU, setting the scene for a bruising 10 days of battles over how Europe responds to its worst post-war migration emergency.Eastern European leaders have rejected calls from Berlin, Paris, and Brussels for a concerted and binding policy of sharing refugees across the EU, setting the scene for a bruising 10 days of battles over how Europe responds to its worst post-war migration emergency.
The prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia met in Prague on Friday and set themselves robustly against pressure, mainly from Berlin, for sharing the refugee burden on a mandatory basis.The prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia met in Prague on Friday and set themselves robustly against pressure, mainly from Berlin, for sharing the refugee burden on a mandatory basis.
Eastern European countries are expected to offer to take in more people from those arriving in Greece, Italy and Hungary, but they rejected proposals that would make the distribution of refugees compulsory and permanent.Eastern European countries are expected to offer to take in more people from those arriving in Greece, Italy and Hungary, but they rejected proposals that would make the distribution of refugees compulsory and permanent.
“Any proposal leading to introduction of mandatory and permanent quota for solidarity measures would be unacceptable,” the four government leaders said. They said sharing the European burden could only be “voluntary “so that each member state may build on its experience, best practices and available resources”. “Any proposal leading to introduction of mandatory and permanent quota for solidarity measures would be unacceptable,” the four government leaders said. Sharing the European burden could only be “voluntary “so that each member state may build on its experience, best practices and available resources”.
The statement contradicted a joint proposal on Thursday from the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, which called for a “permanent and obligatory mechanism” at EU-level governing how refugees are spread across the union.The statement contradicted a joint proposal on Thursday from the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, which called for a “permanent and obligatory mechanism” at EU-level governing how refugees are spread across the union.
Berlin, facing by far the biggest refugee influx in Europe in numerical if not proportionate terms, has been pushing strongly for a new concerted EU policy. Thursday’s Franco-German proposal marked a breakthrough because it was the first time Paris had overtly acceded to the demands for mandatory refugee quotas.Berlin, facing by far the biggest refugee influx in Europe in numerical if not proportionate terms, has been pushing strongly for a new concerted EU policy. Thursday’s Franco-German proposal marked a breakthrough because it was the first time Paris had overtly acceded to the demands for mandatory refugee quotas.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, is to announce new proposals for distributing 160,000 refugees across the EU next Wednesday as well as a new “permanent” system automatically triggering quotas in an emergency.Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, is to announce new proposals for distributing 160,000 refugees across the EU next Wednesday as well as a new “permanent” system automatically triggering quotas in an emergency.
The reaction in Prague from the four eastern European prime ministers underlined how contentious the proposed new policy has become and how Europe is splitting east to west on the refugee crisis.The reaction in Prague from the four eastern European prime ministers underlined how contentious the proposed new policy has become and how Europe is splitting east to west on the refugee crisis.
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian nationalist leader, went to Brussels on Thursday where he robustly rubbished EU policies, said he was putting the army on the borders to keep immigrants out and announced he was fast-tracking legislation on what amounts to a policy of zero immigration. Hungarians did not want Muslims in their country, he declared. The western Europeans were free to host Muslims and the eastern Europeans were free to reject them, he said. Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian nationalist leader, went to Brussels on Thursday where he robustly rubbished EU policies, said he was putting the army on the borders to keep immigrants out and announced he was fast-tracking legislation on what amounts to a policy of zero immigration. Hungarians did not want Muslims in their country, he declared. The western Europeans were free to host Muslims and the eastern Europeans were free to reject them, he said.
While the fundamental divide is between countries in eastern Europe, which have relatively small immigrant communities, and those in western Europe with sizeable populations of immigrant origin, the French have also been wary of backing a mandatory system being drafted in Brussels and strongly supported by Germany, Sweden, Austria and Italy. Spain this week also voiced its opposition to compulsory quotas.While the fundamental divide is between countries in eastern Europe, which have relatively small immigrant communities, and those in western Europe with sizeable populations of immigrant origin, the French have also been wary of backing a mandatory system being drafted in Brussels and strongly supported by Germany, Sweden, Austria and Italy. Spain this week also voiced its opposition to compulsory quotas.
Juncker’s number two, Frans Timmermans, said next week’s blueprint would ensure that refugees were spread across Europe more equitably. “We will insist on that. We will fight for it,” he said.Juncker’s number two, Frans Timmermans, said next week’s blueprint would ensure that refugees were spread across Europe more equitably. “We will insist on that. We will fight for it,” he said.
Timmermans repeated warnings that the attempts of some countries to minimise their exposure to the entry of refugees was jeopardising Europe’s 26-country passport-free travel zone known as Schengen. He said: “Some still believe they can do it alone or be left to the side. Impossible.”Timmermans repeated warnings that the attempts of some countries to minimise their exposure to the entry of refugees was jeopardising Europe’s 26-country passport-free travel zone known as Schengen. He said: “Some still believe they can do it alone or be left to the side. Impossible.”
Eastern European countries are likely to offer to take more refugees than in previous commitments, but they will reject any system that forces them to. Eastern European countries are likely to offer to take more refugees than in previous commitments, but will reject any system that forces them to.
The new refugee-sharing regime being proposed affects 25 of the 28 EU countries because Britain and Ireland do not need to take part and Denmark is excluded from common asylum procedures. Ireland, however, has said it will join in while David Cameron, the UK prime minister, on Friday performed a u-turn on refugee admissions from Syria.The new refugee-sharing regime being proposed affects 25 of the 28 EU countries because Britain and Ireland do not need to take part and Denmark is excluded from common asylum procedures. Ireland, however, has said it will join in while David Cameron, the UK prime minister, on Friday performed a u-turn on refugee admissions from Syria.
But while Britain committed to taking in more Syrians, it is unlikely to join a binding EU scheme.But while Britain committed to taking in more Syrians, it is unlikely to join a binding EU scheme.
The rejection by the quartet of central European countries of the demands from Berlin, Brussels, and Paris paves the way for an acrimonious meeting in 10 days’ time when EU interior and justice ministers meet in extraordinary session to decide on the policies.The rejection by the quartet of central European countries of the demands from Berlin, Brussels, and Paris paves the way for an acrimonious meeting in 10 days’ time when EU interior and justice ministers meet in extraordinary session to decide on the policies.
Depending on the three small Baltic states, as well as others, the eastern Europeans could be outvoted and have the mandatory system imposed on them.Depending on the three small Baltic states, as well as others, the eastern Europeans could be outvoted and have the mandatory system imposed on them.
In May, Brussels tabled much more modest proposals for the compulsory sharing of 40,000 refugees, transferred from Italy and Greece over two years. The eastern European countries rejected that plan and a summit of EU leaders in June degenerated into name-calling with little decided.In May, Brussels tabled much more modest proposals for the compulsory sharing of 40,000 refugees, transferred from Italy and Greece over two years. The eastern European countries rejected that plan and a summit of EU leaders in June degenerated into name-calling with little decided.
The countries then agreed to share no more than 32,000 on a voluntary basis, less than a tenth of those who have entered the EU this year alone.The countries then agreed to share no more than 32,000 on a voluntary basis, less than a tenth of those who have entered the EU this year alone.