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Refugee crisis: EU summit amid resentment over quota deal – live Refugee crisis: EU summit amid resentment over quota deal – live
(35 minutes later)
10.46am BST10:46
Related: Fattemah's choice: stay in a warzone or risk losing her baby on journey to Europe
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The Serbia-Croatia feud is escalating. Prime Minster Aleksandar Vucic has written to the EU to complain about Croatia’s closed border with Serbia, while his foreign minister Ivica Dacic accused Croatia of leading a “trade war”.
10.33am BST10:33
Hungary’s anti immigration prime minister Viktor Orbán is not in Brussels for the summit. He’s visiting Bavaria instead.
He is holding talks with the prime minister of Bavaria Horst Seehofer, who praised Hungary’s tough stance on immigration over the weekend. Germany could not have gained control over the refugee situation if Orbán had not decided to close his country’s borders, Seehofer told the German all-news channel N24. “We will be thankful for what Orbán does”, he said.
Hungary has indicated it will reluctantly accept Europe’s decision on quota, but questioned the feasibility of the plan. Zoltán Kovács, a government spokesman, said: “We believe it will be impossible to keep people assigned to, say, Slovakia if they want to go to Germany. How do you keep people in one country if they want to go join their relatives who live in another EU country or want the more favourable social welfare benefits in that country?”
Orbán was greeted with protesters.
Updated at 10.46am BST
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Czechs likely to accept quotasCzechs likely to accept quotas
The Czech government, one of four to vote against quotas, is not likely to challenge the European Union’s decision, Reuters reports citing the Czech public news agency CTK.The Czech government, one of four to vote against quotas, is not likely to challenge the European Union’s decision, Reuters reports citing the Czech public news agency CTK.
Several ministers from Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s Social Democratic party and from the ANO movement told the agency such a step was not probable as they were arriving for a regular government session.Several ministers from Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s Social Democratic party and from the ANO movement told the agency such a step was not probable as they were arriving for a regular government session.
But the Slovak PM, Robert Fico, has pledged to defy it. “As long as I am prime minister, mandatory quotas will not be implemented on Slovak territory,” he told MPs in Bratislava.But the Slovak PM, Robert Fico, has pledged to defy it. “As long as I am prime minister, mandatory quotas will not be implemented on Slovak territory,” he told MPs in Bratislava.
Updated at 10.22am BSTUpdated at 10.22am BST
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EU Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans has urged the four dissenting member states to respect the EU’s decision on quota. Asked to comment on Slovakia’s intention to resist the imposition of quotas, Timmermans said: “In the European Union, a treaty based organisation, a decision is a decision regardless of the way you voted. The decision is legal, it’s valid and it binds all members.”EU Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans has urged the four dissenting member states to respect the EU’s decision on quota. Asked to comment on Slovakia’s intention to resist the imposition of quotas, Timmermans said: “In the European Union, a treaty based organisation, a decision is a decision regardless of the way you voted. The decision is legal, it’s valid and it binds all members.”
Updated at 10.24am BSTUpdated at 10.24am BST
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Austrian police say that about 2,500 migrants and refugees have arrived at the main border point between Austria and Hungary, a day after 5,000 crossed into Austria.Austrian police say that about 2,500 migrants and refugees have arrived at the main border point between Austria and Hungary, a day after 5,000 crossed into Austria.
Police spokesman Helmut Marban told AP that the new arrivals were bused to the Hungarian side of the Nickelsdorf crossing point early Wednesday. From there they are walking into Austria.Police spokesman Helmut Marban told AP that the new arrivals were bused to the Hungarian side of the Nickelsdorf crossing point early Wednesday. From there they are walking into Austria.
Updated at 10.16am BSTUpdated at 10.16am BST
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Croatia has said it will bus another 4,000 refugees to the Hungarian border after announcing the number of new arrivals in Croatia has increased to 39,000 since Hungary sealed its border with Serbia last week.Croatia has said it will bus another 4,000 refugees to the Hungarian border after announcing the number of new arrivals in Croatia has increased to 39,000 since Hungary sealed its border with Serbia last week.
Interior minister Ranko Ostojic, made the announcement on a visit to the crowded Opatovac transit camp overnight, according to the Croatian news site HRT.Interior minister Ranko Ostojic, made the announcement on a visit to the crowded Opatovac transit camp overnight, according to the Croatian news site HRT.
Update: The figure for new arrivals has climbed to 44,000 according Croatia’s interior ministry, including a record 8,750 on Tuesday.Update: The figure for new arrivals has climbed to 44,000 according Croatia’s interior ministry, including a record 8,750 on Tuesday.
Hungary has been accepting bus loads of refugees across its border with Croatia. It then buses the refugees to Austria.Hungary has been accepting bus loads of refugees across its border with Croatia. It then buses the refugees to Austria.
The Hungarian police reported more than 5,000 new arrivals on Tuesday after the number dropped to a few hundred last week.The Hungarian police reported more than 5,000 new arrivals on Tuesday after the number dropped to a few hundred last week.
Updated at 9.29am BSTUpdated at 9.29am BST
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Croatia’s interior minister Ranko Ostojic has promised thousands of refugees queuing at the Opatovac camp that they will be transferred.Croatia’s interior minister Ranko Ostojic has promised thousands of refugees queuing at the Opatovac camp that they will be transferred.
Crowded again at the entrance of Opatovac camp. Interior minister Ostojić: Maintain order, you'll all be transferred pic.twitter.com/w3taVbJzTGCrowded again at the entrance of Opatovac camp. Interior minister Ostojić: Maintain order, you'll all be transferred pic.twitter.com/w3taVbJzTG
Some 4,000 people registered at the camp on Tuesday, according to the BBC’s Anna Holligan who filmed the scene on Periscope.Some 4,000 people registered at the camp on Tuesday, according to the BBC’s Anna Holligan who filmed the scene on Periscope.
LIVE on #Periscope: Opatovac transit camp - Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans... https://t.co/bS69HNpN63LIVE on #Periscope: Opatovac transit camp - Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans... https://t.co/bS69HNpN63
Meanwhile, road traffic between Serbia and Croatia faces continued disruption after truck drives blocked the border crossing at Batrovci, when Croatia decided to allow a limited number of trucks to pass the border, according to Balkan Insight.Meanwhile, road traffic between Serbia and Croatia faces continued disruption after truck drives blocked the border crossing at Batrovci, when Croatia decided to allow a limited number of trucks to pass the border, according to Balkan Insight.
At least 35,000 migrants, many of them Syrian refugees, have entered Croatia from Serbia since Tuesday last week, when Hungary sealed its border with Serbia.At least 35,000 migrants, many of them Syrian refugees, have entered Croatia from Serbia since Tuesday last week, when Hungary sealed its border with Serbia.
Since the end of last week, Croatia has been bussing new arrivals to the Hungarian border. Croatia says it cannot cope with the numbers, saying Serbia should send them to Hungary and Romania too. Reuters has more on the continuing border feud:Since the end of last week, Croatia has been bussing new arrivals to the Hungarian border. Croatia says it cannot cope with the numbers, saying Serbia should send them to Hungary and Romania too. Reuters has more on the continuing border feud:
Serbia gave Croatia until the end of Wednesday to lift the freight blockade or face political, legal and economic retaliation.Serbia gave Croatia until the end of Wednesday to lift the freight blockade or face political, legal and economic retaliation.
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he had spoken by phone with his Croatian counterpart, Zoran Milanovic, and that they would continue discussions to find a resolution. Without a deal by midnight on Wednesday, he said, Serbia would implement a package of measures against Zagreb.Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he had spoken by phone with his Croatian counterpart, Zoran Milanovic, and that they would continue discussions to find a resolution. Without a deal by midnight on Wednesday, he said, Serbia would implement a package of measures against Zagreb.
“I believe we will be able to agree with our neighbour,” Vucic said. But, he warned, “Serbia must reply to the destruction of its economic integrity and national policy.”“I believe we will be able to agree with our neighbour,” Vucic said. But, he warned, “Serbia must reply to the destruction of its economic integrity and national policy.”
Minutes before he spoke, the Croatian government said it had decided to ease the blockade to allow through only trucks carrying perishable goods. But frustrated drivers were livid, and as night fell they parked several trucks across the main Bajakovo-Batrovci crossing in no-man’s land, halting all road traffic.Minutes before he spoke, the Croatian government said it had decided to ease the blockade to allow through only trucks carrying perishable goods. But frustrated drivers were livid, and as night fell they parked several trucks across the main Bajakovo-Batrovci crossing in no-man’s land, halting all road traffic.
A new migrant crossing point emerged overnight at the Croatian village of Bapska, with hundreds seen walking through rolling hills to a new camp for 4,000 at Opatovac, which is fast reaching capacity.A new migrant crossing point emerged overnight at the Croatian village of Bapska, with hundreds seen walking through rolling hills to a new camp for 4,000 at Opatovac, which is fast reaching capacity.
Several thousand more were waiting in no-man’s land between Sid in Serbia and Tovarnik in Croatia; some spent the night sleeping in a cemetery.Several thousand more were waiting in no-man’s land between Sid in Serbia and Tovarnik in Croatia; some spent the night sleeping in a cemetery.
8.37am BST08:378.37am BST08:37
Mona MahmoodMona Mahmood
The Guardian’s Mona Mahmood has been speaking to Abu Maria, a 40-year-old father of four from Syria, who has just been granted asylum in SwedenThe Guardian’s Mona Mahmood has been speaking to Abu Maria, a 40-year-old father of four from Syria, who has just been granted asylum in Sweden
I had to leave the Za’atari camp in Jordan by any means. I needed medical treatment for my daughter, Maria, who suffers a mental disorder and has difficulty speaking. There was no proper medication or clean accommodation so her suffering was accute.I had to leave the Za’atari camp in Jordan by any means. I needed medical treatment for my daughter, Maria, who suffers a mental disorder and has difficulty speaking. There was no proper medication or clean accommodation so her suffering was accute.
I had no choice but to smuggle myself to Greece on a crowded boat. I had to borrow $1,500 from a friend in Jordan. The Jordanian authorities were only too happy to allow me to leave. They gave me approval within a day.I had no choice but to smuggle myself to Greece on a crowded boat. I had to borrow $1,500 from a friend in Jordan. The Jordanian authorities were only too happy to allow me to leave. They gave me approval within a day.
My plan was to take Maria with me to Europe, but after the drowning of the Syrian kid, Alan Kurdi, I decided to leave her with her mother in Jordan. It took me 15 days to get to Sweden after crossing Greece, Macedonia, Hungary and Germany.My plan was to take Maria with me to Europe, but after the drowning of the Syrian kid, Alan Kurdi, I decided to leave her with her mother in Jordan. It took me 15 days to get to Sweden after crossing Greece, Macedonia, Hungary and Germany.
I wish I could have gone to England as I speak English, but my friends warned me that I would end up in Calais for months and never be able to get to England. They said that the police were checking lorries and trains heading to England and I might end in jail.I wish I could have gone to England as I speak English, but my friends warned me that I would end up in Calais for months and never be able to get to England. They said that the police were checking lorries and trains heading to England and I might end in jail.
I went to the immigration centre in Gothenburg as soon as I stepped off the the ferry to Sweden. To my surprise, I found more than 300 refugee already in a queue. The Swedish authorities took us to a hotel to stay over night and come to apply again on Tuesday.I went to the immigration centre in Gothenburg as soon as I stepped off the the ferry to Sweden. To my surprise, I found more than 300 refugee already in a queue. The Swedish authorities took us to a hotel to stay over night and come to apply again on Tuesday.
I’m so glad to be in Sweden. I can breathe freedom now. I was suffocating in Jordan.I’m so glad to be in Sweden. I can breathe freedom now. I was suffocating in Jordan.
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The European Commission has published a useful guide to how the refugee quota system will work. It sets out the individual quotas of refugee that each country will take under the plan. Despite objections from four central European countries they will also be forced to take their share of refugees. Here are the quotas for the dissenting countries:The European Commission has published a useful guide to how the refugee quota system will work. It sets out the individual quotas of refugee that each country will take under the plan. Despite objections from four central European countries they will also be forced to take their share of refugees. Here are the quotas for the dissenting countries:
7.54am BST07:547.54am BST07:54
SummarySummary
Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the refugee crisis as an EU summit is set to agree a deal to resettle 120,000 across Europe in the face of opposition from central European states.Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the refugee crisis as an EU summit is set to agree a deal to resettle 120,000 across Europe in the face of opposition from central European states.
Here’s a roundup of the latest developments:Here’s a roundup of the latest developments:
Updated at 10.24am BSTUpdated at 10.24am BST