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EU leaders to hold refugee summit EU leaders to hold refugee summit
(35 minutes later)
European leaders are to stage an emergency summit next week to wrestle with the EU’s worst ever humanitarian crisis, a refugee emergency that has also pitched the union into one of its most bitter political conflicts. European leaders are to stage an emergency summit next week to wrestle with the EU’s worst humanitarian crisis, a refugee emergency that has also pitched the union into one of its most bitter political conflicts.
Amid ever deepening division and a war of words between eastern and western Europe over how to cope with hundreds of thousands of arrivals, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, called the special summit for next Wednesday after Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany demanded he do so. Amid ever deepening division and a war of words between eastern and western Europe over how to cope with hundreds of thousands of arrivals, Donald Tusk, president of the European council, called the special summit for next Wednesday after Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, demanded he do so.
Among several factors at issue is the question of compulsory EU quotas for sharing refugees to take the load from Germany and Sweden, which are bearing the brunt of the influx of newcomers. Among the factors at issue is the question of compulsory EU refugee quotas, to take the load from Germany and Sweden, which are bearing the brunt of the influx of newcomers.
Following ugly scenes on the Serbian-Hungarian border on Wednesday when Hungarian security forces used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets on desperate people pressed up against Budapest’s new razor-wire border fortifications, the focus shifted on Thursday to Croatia. At least 8,000 people crossed into Croatia from Serbia after abandoning the Hungarian route to western Europe.Following ugly scenes on the Serbian-Hungarian border on Wednesday when Hungarian security forces used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets on desperate people pressed up against Budapest’s new razor-wire border fortifications, the focus shifted on Thursday to Croatia. At least 8,000 people crossed into Croatia from Serbia after abandoning the Hungarian route to western Europe.
The Croats sheltered 2,000 in six different sanctuaries, started building tent camps, and provided buses and trains. But the early gestures of generosity quickly shifted into pleas of impotence as the interior minister, Ranko Ostojić, complained that Croatian capacity was already exhausted and the president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, told the army chief of staff to step up readiness “to defend the borders against illegal immigrants”. The Croats sheltered 2,000 in six sanctuaries, started building tent camps, and provided buses and trains. But the early gestures of generosity quickly shifted into pleas of impotence as the interior minister, Ranko Ostojić, complained that Croatian capacity was already exhausted, and the president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, told the army chief of staff to step up readiness “to defend the borders against illegal immigrants”.
Zagreb is predicting the arrival of 20,000 refugees and migrants after Hungary closed its doors.Zagreb is predicting the arrival of 20,000 refugees and migrants after Hungary closed its doors.
Related: Slovenia offers shelter for 5,000 refugeesRelated: Slovenia offers shelter for 5,000 refugees
European leaders are sunk in mutual recrimination, mouthing cliches about “solidarity and responsibility” following serial failures to come up with a coherent policy. Instead, policy responses have degenerated into a jigsaw pattern of renewed national border controls and closures across the 26-country free-travel Schengen zone as fragmentation, mudslinging and national special-pleading prevail. European leaders appear sunk in mutual recrimination, producing cliches about “solidarity and responsibility” following serial failures on a coherent policy. Policy responses have degenerated into a jigsaw pattern of renewed national border controls and closures across the 26-country free-travel Schengen zone as fragmentation, mudslinging and national special-pleading prevail.
It is not clear what next Wednesday’s summit can achieve. The day before the summit, EU interior ministers are also to meet for their second emergency session in a week after failing to agree on quotas last Monday. It is not clear what next Wednesday’s summit can achieve. The day before the summit EU interior ministers are also to meet for their second emergency session in a week after failing to agree on quotas last Monday.
At least five east European countries are strongly opposed to having refugee quotas imposed on them by Brussels, while Germany staunchly supports proposals from the European Commission for compulsory sharing of 160,000 refugees among at least 22 countries. At least five east European countries are strongly opposed to having refugee quotas imposed on them by Brussels, while Germany staunchly supports proposals from the European commission for compulsory allocation of 160,000 refugees among at least 22 countries.
Britain is a ferocious critic of the quotas scheme. Under its opt-out from EU asylum policies, it will not take part. Germany, Sweden, Austria and Italy are the biggest supporters.Britain is a ferocious critic of the quotas scheme. Under its opt-out from EU asylum policies, it will not take part. Germany, Sweden, Austria and Italy are the biggest supporters.
While the summit is expected to operate by consensus, the interior ministers could outvote the rejectionists on quotas and are threatening to do so. That would represent a big change in the way the EU operates on such sensitive issues. While the summit is expected to operate by consensus, the interior ministers could out-vote the rejectionists on quotas and are threatening to do so. That would represent a big change in the way the EU operates on such sensitive issues.
A senior east European diplomat acknowledged his country could easily be forced to take part in the quotas but argued there would be a price to pay. “There will be political consequences. It’s very dangerous, a big big problem,” he said. “To decide here in Brussels how many refugees a country takes does not reflect reality.” An east European diplomat acknowledged his country could easily be forced to take part in the quotas but said there would be a price to pay. “There will be political consequences. It’s very dangerous, a big, big, problem,” he said. “To decide here in Brussels how many refugees a country takes does not reflect reality.”
The dispute is turning into the biggest split between eastern and western Europe since the post-communist countries joined the union in 2004. Other senior diplomats say that the Germans can easily win a vote if they push it, but that to do so would represent “quite a big moment in European history”. The dispute is turning into the biggest split between east and west Europe since the post-communist countries joined the union in 2004. Other diplomats said that the Germans could easily win a vote if they pushed it, but that to do so would represent “quite a big moment in European history”.
“The consequences of a qualified majority vote (QMV) would be significant,” said Philippe Lamberts, co-leader of the Greens in the European Parliament. “Forcing QMV on such a hot issue won’t produce a result. More people are turning their backs on Europe. This should be avoided.” “The consequences of a qualified majority vote (QMV) would be significant,” said Philippe Lamberts, co-leader of the Greens in the European parliament. “Forcing QMV on such a hot issue won’t produce a result. More people are turning their backs on Europe. This should be avoided.”
Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, said he would not be “dictated to” and would not observe any quota that was imposed. The Czechs and the Hungarians are blaming the Germans for the mess.Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, said he would not be “dictated to” and would not observe any quota that was imposed. The Czechs and the Hungarians are blaming the Germans for the mess.
One way out of the impasse would be to make the quotas voluntary rather than binding. António Guterres, the UN’s high commissioner for refugees, said in Brussels this week that he did not care whether the quotas were obligatory or voluntary as long as the refugees were all taken in.One way out of the impasse would be to make the quotas voluntary rather than binding. António Guterres, the UN’s high commissioner for refugees, said in Brussels this week that he did not care whether the quotas were obligatory or voluntary as long as the refugees were all taken in.
The last time the leaders sought to deal with the refugee crisis was at a summit in June that degenerated into name-calling until 0330 in the morning and resolved nothing. It is described by witnesses as “one of the more poisonous summits of the past 10 years”. The last time the leaders sought to deal with the refugee crisis was at a summit in June that degenerated into name-calling until gone three in the morning and resolved nothing. It is described by witnesses as “one of the more poisonous summits of the past 10 years”.
Merkel is certain to focus on the issue of so-called “hot spots”, aimed at setting up refugee centres in Greece and Italy to hasten the identification and fingerprinting of people arriving. The Germans are furious that the Greeks and the Italians are deliberately not registering newcomers to allow them to travel on to Germany. Merkel is certain to focus on the issue of “hot spots”, aiming to set up refugee centres in Greece and Italy to hasten the identification of people and fingerprinting. The Germans are furious that the Greeks and the Italians are deliberately not registering newcomers to allow them to travel on to Germany.
The Italians are said to be registering half of those arriving while the Greek figure is put at 3-4%. Merkel says that the hot spots must be functioning before refugees are allowed to travel on to Germany, their main destination. The Italians are said to be registering half of those arriving while the Greek figure is put at 3-4%. Merkel said that the hot spots had to be functioning before refugees were allowed to go on to Germany, often their destination.
But the Europeans have been discussing “hot spots” since April and the scheme involves national authorities surrendering powers to EU agencies doing the registration. But the Europeans have been discussing “hot spots” since April and the scheme involves national authorities surrendering powers to EU agencies doing the registration. “We’ve been talking about hotspots for four months without knowing what they are,” said the senior diplomat. “It’s a phantom. Everyone talks of hot spots but no one’s ever seen one.”
“We’ve been talking about hotspots for four months without knowing what they are,” said the senior diplomat. “It’s a phantom. Everyone talks of hot spots but no one’s ever seen one.”