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| Migrant crisis: Germany says EU quota plan not enough | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| EU plans for member states to accept 160,000 new asylum seekers are only a first step in solving the migrant crisis, Germany's vice-chancellor says. | |
| Sigmar Gabriel said 450,000 people had arrived in Germany so far this year, with 37,000 in the first eight days of September. | Sigmar Gabriel said 450,000 people had arrived in Germany so far this year, with 37,000 in the first eight days of September. |
| Tens of thousands, mainly Syrians, have pushed north in recent weeks. | Tens of thousands, mainly Syrians, have pushed north in recent weeks. |
| Serbian TV says a record 5,000 migrants have arrived at the border with Hungary in the past 24 hours. | Serbian TV says a record 5,000 migrants have arrived at the border with Hungary in the past 24 hours. |
| The Hungarian army earlier started military exercises to prepare for a possible future role in guarding the border and stem the flow of people - a move criticised by human rights groups. | The Hungarian army earlier started military exercises to prepare for a possible future role in guarding the border and stem the flow of people - a move criticised by human rights groups. |
| Meanwhile, Austria's government said 5,700 people had crossed over from Hungary in recent hours. National train operator OeBB temporarily suspended services from Hungary because of the increasing numbers and the risks of overcrowding. | Meanwhile, Austria's government said 5,700 people had crossed over from Hungary in recent hours. National train operator OeBB temporarily suspended services from Hungary because of the increasing numbers and the risks of overcrowding. |
| A correspondent on the Hungary-Serbia border says refugees are being kept in a miserable, wet and muddy holding zone, with volunteers describing conditions there as a "disaster". | |
| Inclement weather conditions were also reported in northern Greece, forcing officials to allow at least 7,000 people, including many young children, to pass into neighbouring Macedonia. | |
| 'First step' | 'First step' |
| On Wednesday European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced plans to distribute 120,000 refugees from Greece, Italy and Hungary among member states via binding quotas. | On Wednesday European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced plans to distribute 120,000 refugees from Greece, Italy and Hungary among member states via binding quotas. |
| This would be on top of a proposal in May to share 40,000 refugees from just Greece and Italy. | This would be on top of a proposal in May to share 40,000 refugees from just Greece and Italy. |
| Speaking in the German parliament on Thursday, Mr Gabriel described the plans as "a first step, if one wants to be polite". | Speaking in the German parliament on Thursday, Mr Gabriel described the plans as "a first step, if one wants to be polite". |
| "Or you could call it a drop in the ocean," he added. | "Or you could call it a drop in the ocean," he added. |
| European press on migrant proposals | European press on migrant proposals |
| Europe migrant crisis: Are you affected? | Europe migrant crisis: Are you affected? |
| Thousands of migrants, many of them fleeing conflicts in countries such as Syria and Libya, continue to make the dangerous journey to Europe's shores across the Mediterranean. | Thousands of migrants, many of them fleeing conflicts in countries such as Syria and Libya, continue to make the dangerous journey to Europe's shores across the Mediterranean. |
| Another group of 2,500 migrants boarded a ferry hired by the Greek government early on Thursday to transport them from the island of Lesbos to the mainland. | Another group of 2,500 migrants boarded a ferry hired by the Greek government early on Thursday to transport them from the island of Lesbos to the mainland. |
| "Everything is lost" - BBC News correspondent Fergal Keane meets migrants on refugee ship | "Everything is lost" - BBC News correspondent Fergal Keane meets migrants on refugee ship |
| The El Venizelos once carried tourists on the leisure routes of the Aegean and the Mediterranean. That was before the wars in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan sent tens of thousands of people in the direction of Europe. | The El Venizelos once carried tourists on the leisure routes of the Aegean and the Mediterranean. That was before the wars in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan sent tens of thousands of people in the direction of Europe. |
| I am on board the Venizelos with 2,500 refugees. They include many families with young children who crossed from Turkey in rubber boats and spent several days queuing for the ship in the stifling heat. | I am on board the Venizelos with 2,500 refugees. They include many families with young children who crossed from Turkey in rubber boats and spent several days queuing for the ship in the stifling heat. |
| It was the quiet of the waiting crowds this morning that was most striking. They filed aboard in orderly lines - the sick and the elderly going first - and then lay down wherever they could. Many were asleep within minutes. | It was the quiet of the waiting crowds this morning that was most striking. They filed aboard in orderly lines - the sick and the elderly going first - and then lay down wherever they could. Many were asleep within minutes. |
| As the dawn came up, scattered groups had gathered along the ship's railing. I met an artist from Aleppo, Givara Hesoo, who was heading for Germany with his wife and three children. | As the dawn came up, scattered groups had gathered along the ship's railing. I met an artist from Aleppo, Givara Hesoo, who was heading for Germany with his wife and three children. |
| "Everything is lost," he said. When I asked him about his family's future he replied: "We cannot talk of a future yet." | "Everything is lost," he said. When I asked him about his family's future he replied: "We cannot talk of a future yet." |
| Follow Fergal's updates on Twitter | Follow Fergal's updates on Twitter |
| The European parliament backed Mr Juncker's plans on Thursday and they will now have to get the go-ahead from member states. | The European parliament backed Mr Juncker's plans on Thursday and they will now have to get the go-ahead from member states. |
| Foreign ministers from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - whose leaders have rejected the migrant quotas - are due to meet their German and Luxembourg counterparts on Friday to discuss the crisis. | |
| The Czech foreign ministry said it was aimed at improving "better mutual understanding among EU member states...(in light of) some differing views". | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier said she hoped newcomers would integrate with the help of their children learning German in school after visiting a home for refugees in Berlin. | |
| Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Germany had registered some 450,000 migrants already this year, including 105,000 in August and 37,000 in the first eight days of September. | Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Germany had registered some 450,000 migrants already this year, including 105,000 in August and 37,000 in the first eight days of September. |
| Earlier the Irish government announced it would take in 4,000 refugees - a figure that includes 1,120 people Ireland had already agreed to receive. | Earlier the Irish government announced it would take in 4,000 refugees - a figure that includes 1,120 people Ireland had already agreed to receive. |
| The UK, Ireland and Denmark can choose whether to take part in the EU's quota scheme. | The UK, Ireland and Denmark can choose whether to take part in the EU's quota scheme. |
| The UK government, which is not part of the scheme, has said it will resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees from camps surrounding Syria by 2020. | The UK government, which is not part of the scheme, has said it will resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees from camps surrounding Syria by 2020. |
| Can the EU overcome rifts? | Can the EU overcome rifts? |
| What next for Germany's asylum seekers? | What next for Germany's asylum seekers? |
| What can the EU do to solve the crisis? | What can the EU do to solve the crisis? |
| Nine key moments in crisis | Nine key moments in crisis |
| Many migrants are trying to travel through Hungary to Germany, Austria and Sweden - wealthier EU nations with more liberal asylum laws. | Many migrants are trying to travel through Hungary to Germany, Austria and Sweden - wealthier EU nations with more liberal asylum laws. |
| The authorities in Hungary have been told to expect 40,000 more migrants by next week. | The authorities in Hungary have been told to expect 40,000 more migrants by next week. |
| BBC correspondents covering the migrant crisis on Twitter | BBC correspondents covering the migrant crisis on Twitter |
| Meanwhile Denmark's police chief says his officers have been ordered to let migrants travel freely through the country without registering if they do not want to seek asylum there. | Meanwhile Denmark's police chief says his officers have been ordered to let migrants travel freely through the country without registering if they do not want to seek asylum there. |
| Denmark suspended all rail links with Germany on Wednesday and temporarily closed a motorway after police stopped hundreds of migrants trying to reach Sweden at the border. | Denmark suspended all rail links with Germany on Wednesday and temporarily closed a motorway after police stopped hundreds of migrants trying to reach Sweden at the border. |
| A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants. | A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants. |