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| Migrant crisis: More EU states impose border checks | Migrant crisis: More EU states impose border checks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More EU countries have said they are imposing border checks to deal with an influx of migrants. | More EU countries have said they are imposing border checks to deal with an influx of migrants. |
| Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands said they would tighten controls, hours after Germany imposed checks on its border with Austria. | |
| It comes as EU interior ministers hold talks in Brussels on the crisis. | |
| Hungary also completed its fence along the border with Serbia on Monday, and blocked a railway line used as the main crossing point by migrants. | |
| The BBC's Fergal Keane at the border said people were being directed to an official registration point. | |
| EU states are struggling to cope with a record influx of migrants, many aiming for Germany. | |
| The new border checks are a challenge to the EU's Schengen agreement on free movement. | |
| EU ministers are also due to vote on a plan from May to redistribute an initial 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea through mandatory quotas, though Central and East European states have opposed this. | |
| The EU has since raised the total number of people it seeks to share out through quotas to 160,000 asylum seekers across 23 EU states. | The EU has since raised the total number of people it seeks to share out through quotas to 160,000 asylum seekers across 23 EU states. |
| Tackling people smugglers | Tackling people smugglers |
| On arrival in Brussels, Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak said he was against the quota plan, because "it's not possible to hold the migrants in the countries by force". | On arrival in Brussels, Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak said he was against the quota plan, because "it's not possible to hold the migrants in the countries by force". |
| Some other ex-communist states in Central and Eastern Europe also oppose mandatory quotas. | Some other ex-communist states in Central and Eastern Europe also oppose mandatory quotas. |
| Austrian police said up to 7,000 people had arrived from Hungary on Monday, and 14,000 on Sunday. | Austrian police said up to 7,000 people had arrived from Hungary on Monday, and 14,000 on Sunday. |
| Chancellor Werner Faymann said troops were being deployed primarily to provide humanitarian help within Austria, but would be sent to the border if necessary. | |
| "If Germany carries out border controls, Austria must put strengthened border controls in place," Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner said. | "If Germany carries out border controls, Austria must put strengthened border controls in place," Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner said. |
| Schengen: EU free movement deal explained | Schengen: EU free movement deal explained |
| The Schengen agreement allows for temporary border controls in emergencies. | |
| Also on the EU ministers' agenda is a plan to agree a common list of countries considered safe for migrants to be sent back to - a measure that could speed up deportations. | Also on the EU ministers' agenda is a plan to agree a common list of countries considered safe for migrants to be sent back to - a measure that could speed up deportations. |
| Meanwhile the EU approved a plan for its operation in the Mediterranean to conduct "search, seizure and diversion... of vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling". | |
| Most of the migrants who surged into Hungary in recent weeks fled conflict, oppression and poverty in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea. | Most of the migrants who surged into Hungary in recent weeks fled conflict, oppression and poverty in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea. |
| Many have been refusing to register in countries such as Greece or Hungary, fearing it will stop them being granted asylum in Germany or other EU states. | Many have been refusing to register in countries such as Greece or Hungary, fearing it will stop them being granted asylum in Germany or other EU states. |
| Hungary's completion of its controversial four-metre-high (13ft) fence along the Serbian border comes ahead of tougher measures to be introduced at midnight that include arresting illegal immigrants. | |
| Are you a refugee seeking asylum in Europe? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story or find out about other ways to contact BBC News | Are you a refugee seeking asylum in Europe? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story or find out about other ways to contact BBC News |
| On Monday, Germany's new border controls were said to be causing traffic jams as long as 20km (12 miles) on motorways in Austria. | On Monday, Germany's new border controls were said to be causing traffic jams as long as 20km (12 miles) on motorways in Austria. |
| Local media also reported that 25 suspected people traffickers had been arrested overnight, though there was no sign of migrants being turned back. | Local media also reported that 25 suspected people traffickers had been arrested overnight, though there was no sign of migrants being turned back. |
| German media reaction | German media reaction |
| Some German commentators see the decision to impose controls on the border with Austria as sending a clear signal to the rest of Europe. Others think it is symptomatic of German government indecisiveness. | Some German commentators see the decision to impose controls on the border with Austria as sending a clear signal to the rest of Europe. Others think it is symptomatic of German government indecisiveness. |
| Die Welt describes it as "perhaps a decision of historic proportions" and a "turning point", saying the move came in response to "impotence within the European Union". | Die Welt describes it as "perhaps a decision of historic proportions" and a "turning point", saying the move came in response to "impotence within the European Union". |
| Die Zeit also sees the closure of the border as applying pressure on those European countries "whose response to the refugee crisis has been apathetic". | Die Zeit also sees the closure of the border as applying pressure on those European countries "whose response to the refugee crisis has been apathetic". |
| A headline in Ostsee Zeitung implies that the change of policy was inevitable: "German help is not limitless". | A headline in Ostsee Zeitung implies that the change of policy was inevitable: "German help is not limitless". |
| Others question the judgment of Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Was Merkel's generosity a mistake?" asks the Rheinische Post, while Süddeutsche Zeitung's verdict is: "Borders open, borders closed. Nobody dares to predict what will happen... However, many ask whether the chancellor has any plan at all." | Others question the judgment of Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Was Merkel's generosity a mistake?" asks the Rheinische Post, while Süddeutsche Zeitung's verdict is: "Borders open, borders closed. Nobody dares to predict what will happen... However, many ask whether the chancellor has any plan at all." |
| Lyse Doucet: Where does this crisis end? | Lyse Doucet: Where does this crisis end? |
| Caring for solo child refugees | Caring for solo child refugees |
| Crisis explained in graphics | Crisis explained in graphics |
| What next for Germany's asylum seekers? | What next for Germany's asylum seekers? |
| The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned that refugees could "find themselves moving around in legal limbo". | The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned that refugees could "find themselves moving around in legal limbo". |
| It said announcements of different border control measures by European states "only underlines the urgency of establishing a comprehensive European response". | |
| German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said border controls were a signal that Germany "cannot accommodate all of the refugees alone". | German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said border controls were a signal that Germany "cannot accommodate all of the refugees alone". |
| It can expect to receive one million migrants this year he said, higher than an interior ministry estimate of 800,000. | It can expect to receive one million migrants this year he said, higher than an interior ministry estimate of 800,000. |
| The UK has said it will take 20,000 people from refugee camps in the region over five years. UK Prime Minister David Cameron visited a refugee camp in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday. | The UK has said it will take 20,000 people from refugee camps in the region over five years. UK Prime Minister David Cameron visited a refugee camp in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday. |
| Are you a refugee seeking asylum in Europe? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. | Are you a refugee seeking asylum in Europe? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |