This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34216883

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Migrant crisis: Key talks in Prague amid quota row Migrant crisis: People treated 'like animals' in Hungary camp
(about 7 hours later)
The foreign ministers of four Central European nations are to meet their counterparts from Germany and current EU presidency holder Luxembourg, amid a growing row over migrant quotas. Footage has emerged of migrants being thrown bags of food at a Hungarian camp near the border with Serbia.
The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia reject quotas proposed by the EU Commission and backed by Germany. An Austrian woman who shot the video said the migrants were being treated like "animals" and called for European states to open their borders.
The talks in Prague are expected to focus on this issue. The emergency director of Human Rights Watch said the migrants were being held like "cattle in pens".
The Commission wants 120,000 additional asylum seekers per year to be shared out between 28 members. It comes as Central European states along with Germany and Luxembourg are due to meet over the migrant crisis.
This would be a sharp increase from the current 40,000. Germany is pushing a quota system that would oblige EU states to take fixed numbers of new arrivals.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands of migrants have been desperately trying to flee conflicts in countries like Syria and Libya. Many of them travel through Hungary to Germany, Austria and Sweden - wealthier EU nations with more liberal asylum laws. The European Commission wants 120,000 additional asylum seekers a year to be shared out between 28 members - a sharp increase from the previous proposal of 40,000.
But the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have rejected the proposals.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands of migrants have been desperately trying to flee conflicts in countries such as Syria and Libya.
Many of them travel through Hungary to Germany, Austria and Sweden - wealthier EU nations with more liberal asylum laws.
Europe migrant crisis: Are you affected?Europe migrant crisis: Are you affected?
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 crisisNine key moments in crisis
'Differing views'
The Central European nations - the so-called Visegrad-four - have all rejected the proposed compulsory quotas.
This is despite the fact that each of them would take in far fewer refugees than Germany if the EU backs the proposals.
Ahead of the Prague meeting, the Czech Foreign Ministry said it was aimed at improving "better mutual understanding among EU member states... [in light of] some differing views".
Hungary in particular has become a key point on the journey north for the migrants, with more than 150,000 people arriving this year.Hungary in particular has become a key point on the journey north for the migrants, with more than 150,000 people arriving this year.
On Wednesday, the Hungarian army started military exercises to prepare for a possible future role in guarding the border and stemming the flow of people - a move criticised by human rights groups. The footage from Hungary comes from a camp at Roszke, one of the bottlenecks where large numbers of migrants heading north and west have built up.
It was filmed by Michaela Spritzendorfer, the wife of an Austrian Green party politician who was delivering aid to the camp, and Klaus Kufner, a journalist and activist.
"These people have been on a terrible tour for three months," Ms Spritzendorfer told the BBC.
"Most of them have been across the sea now and on the boat and through the forest and they've gone through terrible things and we, as Europe, we keep them there in camps like animals. It's really a responsibility of European politicians to open the borders now."
The lack of support for migrants in Hungary has drawn criticism from activists. Peter Bouckaert, emergency director at Human Rights watch, described the situation at Roszke as "inhumane", saying that migrants were held like "cattle in pens".
At the scene: Anna Holligan, BBC News
The Hungarian refugee camps have become humiliating holding zones for the thousands trying to cross the country's borders. Journalists are banned from entering, but images shared by human rights groups and refugees are disturbing.
The Hungarian government has not yet commented, but the images will fuel the allegations that Hungary is failing to meet the minimum standards for the treatment of migrants, as laid out in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Council of Europe has reminded member states that people should not be treated like prisoners.
Many of the people I've spoken to, from Raqqa, Idlib and Homs have become numb to violence in Syria, but their treatment in what is supposed to be a place of refuge is hard to bear.
There is also a bottleneck at Hungary's border with Austria. Officials said about 8,000 people had crossed into Austria at Nickelsdorf on Thursday and a similar number were expected on Friday.
Existing shelters in the area are full and the army is putting up tents, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports. Exhausted men, women and children are everywhere, some even sleeping on the manicured gardens of Nickelsdorf's neat houses.
With no buses or trains running, some have started walking along the motorway towards Vienna, which police have closed to traffic.
The Central European nations - the so-called Visegrad-four - have all rejected the proposed compulsory quotas, despite the fact that each of them would take in far fewer refugees than Germany if the EU backs the proposals.
Ahead of the Prague meeting, the Czech Foreign Ministry said it was aimed at improving "better mutual understanding among EU member states... [in light of] some differing views".
On Wednesday, the Hungarian army started military exercises to prepare for a possible future role in guarding the border and stemming the flow of people - a move criticised by human rights groups.
A new razor-wire barrier is also being built along the country's border with Serbia.A new razor-wire barrier is also being built along the country's border with Serbia.
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.
In other developments:
Syrian criticism
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.
The European parliament backed Mr Juncker's plans on Thursday and they will now have to get the go-ahead from member states.
Meanwhile, Syria's Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said in rare comments on the issue that Europe should bear full responsibility for the crisis, adding that most Syrians who had left were fleeing areas held by the government's rivals, including Islamic State (IS).
He criticised European countries for sending "terrorists" to his country, referring to the thousands of Europeans who have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight with IS.
BBC correspondents covering the migrant crisis on Twitter
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.