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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Migrant crisis: EU ministers approve disputed quota plan | Migrant crisis: EU ministers approve disputed quota plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| EU interior ministers have approved a controversial plan to relocate 120,000 migrants across the continent over the next two years. | EU interior ministers have approved a controversial plan to relocate 120,000 migrants across the continent over the next two years. |
| It will see migrants moved from Italy, Greece and Hungary to other EU countries. | It will see migrants moved from Italy, Greece and Hungary to other EU countries. |
| Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary voted against accepting mandatory quotas. | Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary voted against accepting mandatory quotas. |
| After the vote, Slovakia's prime minister said he would not accept the new quotas. | After the vote, Slovakia's prime minister said he would not accept the new quotas. |
| Finland abstained from the vote. Poland, which had opposed the proposal, voted for it. | Finland abstained from the vote. Poland, which had opposed the proposal, voted for it. |
| Follow the latest updates on our live page | Follow the latest updates on our live page |
| Follow BBC correspondents covering the crisis on Twitter | Follow BBC correspondents covering the crisis on Twitter |
| The BBC's Europe correspondent Chris Morris said it was highly unusual for an issue like this - which involves national sovereignty - to be decided by majority vote rather than unanimous decision. | The BBC's Europe correspondent Chris Morris said it was highly unusual for an issue like this - which involves national sovereignty - to be decided by majority vote rather than unanimous decision. |
| The matter must now be ratified by EU leaders in Brussels on Wednesday. | The matter must now be ratified by EU leaders in Brussels on Wednesday. |
| Who are the 120,000? | Who are the 120,000? |
| Source: European Commission | Source: European Commission |
| Relocation deal explained | Relocation deal explained |
| Hungary proposes its own deal | Hungary proposes its own deal |
| Why central Europe says 'No' | Why central Europe says 'No' |
| How is migrant crisis dividing EU countries? | How is migrant crisis dividing EU countries? |
| EU migration: Crisis in graphics | EU migration: Crisis in graphics |
| Earlier in the day, the Czech government warned that the plan was unlikely to work, even if it gained approval. | Earlier in the day, the Czech government warned that the plan was unlikely to work, even if it gained approval. |
| The UN refugee agency said the scheme would be insufficient, given the large numbers arriving in Europe. | The UN refugee agency said the scheme would be insufficient, given the large numbers arriving in Europe. |
| "A relocation programme alone, at this stage in the crisis, will not be enough to stabilise the situation," , UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said. | "A relocation programme alone, at this stage in the crisis, will not be enough to stabilise the situation," , UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said. |
| The number of those needing relocation will probably have to be revised upwards significantly, she said. | The number of those needing relocation will probably have to be revised upwards significantly, she said. |
| The UN says close to 480,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year, and are now reaching European shores at a rate of nearly 6,000 a day. | The UN says close to 480,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year, and are now reaching European shores at a rate of nearly 6,000 a day. |
| Under the EU's constitution, a country that does not agree with a policy on migration imposed upon it could have the right to appeal to the European Council - if it feels "the fundamental principles of its social security or legal system are under threat". | Under the EU's constitution, a country that does not agree with a policy on migration imposed upon it could have the right to appeal to the European Council - if it feels "the fundamental principles of its social security or legal system are under threat". |
| None of the countries that voted against the plan has yet indicated whether they would appeal. | None of the countries that voted against the plan has yet indicated whether they would appeal. |
| 'Emperor has no clothes' | |
| Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn, who chaired the meeting, said he had "no doubt" opposing countries would implement the measures. | |
| But Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said he would not implement the quotas as long as he was in office. | |
| Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec tweeted: "Very soon we will realise the emperor has no clothes. Today was a defeat for common sense." | |
| After the meeting, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said: "Today is an important building block, but no more than that." | |
| A statement from the European Commission said foreign ministers would now discuss reforms to the Dublin regulation, which demands that migrants register as refugees in the first EU country in which they arrive. | A statement from the European Commission said foreign ministers would now discuss reforms to the Dublin regulation, which demands that migrants register as refugees in the first EU country in which they arrive. |
| The UK has opted against taking part in the relocation scheme and has its own plan to resettle migrants directly from Syrian refugee camps. | The UK has opted against taking part in the relocation scheme and has its own plan to resettle migrants directly from Syrian refugee camps. |
| 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. |