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| Refugee crisis: EU splits exposed at emergency summit – live updates | Refugee crisis: EU splits exposed at emergency summit – live updates |
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| 10.57am BST10:57 | |
| Almost a third of unaccompanied refugee children in England are being look after by just two local authorities due to a quirk of the rules that may be damaging their prospects, according to an investigation by The Conversation. | |
| Freedom of Information requests revealed that Kent, with 376 and Croydon with 412 between them looked after 28% of all unaccompanied children in England. | |
| Joanna Wilding Research Fellow, at the University of Brighton, explains why: | |
| The reason Kent and Croydon are responsible for so many children is that the Children Act 1989 provides that unaccompanied children must be taken into the care of the local authority where they are first found. While adult asylum-seekers are dispersed across the UK with no choice in where they go, lone children are legally the responsibility of the local council. | |
| It means that as a key entry point for migrants, Dover puts Kent into a position of responsibility, while Croydon’s disproportionate role comes thanks to the fact that it houses the Home Office’s Asylum Screening Unit. | |
| Wilding’s research revealed doubts about whether children’s best interests could be fully implemented in Kent compared to other local authority areas. | |
| My fieldwork revealed that children aged 16 and 17 had minimal prospects of entering foster care in Kent, while those in Brighton and Hove in East Sussex generally entered foster care regardless of age and remained there until at least the age of 18. A number of children I met did not know who their social worker was in order to ask for help and were relying on charities instead. | |
| Eritrean children who I interviewed were fasting for the Orthodox Lent, but were unable to go to the nearest Eritrean Orthodox Church (in London) for the important Easter services because they could not obtain travel money. High-quality legal representatives had limited capacity because of the structure of contracts with the Legal Aid Agency. | |
| While experts and children in Brighton and Hove described rapid access to good educational support, children in Kent faced long delays to start education or long journeys into London to reach college. Demand for educational places could not be met in Kent’s schools and colleges but the situation was being exacerbated by deliberate decisions to stop meeting unaccompanied children’s needs. | |
| 10.13am BST10:13 | 10.13am BST10:13 |
| Croatia’s interior minister Ranko Ostojic insists that Croatia is getting on top of the crisis by claiming that more people are moved out of the Opatovac transit camp faster than arriving. | Croatia’s interior minister Ranko Ostojic insists that Croatia is getting on top of the crisis by claiming that more people are moved out of the Opatovac transit camp faster than arriving. |
| Some 4,000 people arrived overnight, but the numbers waiting for registration is rapidly declining, he said. | Some 4,000 people arrived overnight, but the numbers waiting for registration is rapidly declining, he said. |
| Ostojic praised Croatia charities and church groups for the help they have offered to refugees. “Citizens are our greatest allies” state broadcaster HRT quoted him saying. | Ostojic praised Croatia charities and church groups for the help they have offered to refugees. “Citizens are our greatest allies” state broadcaster HRT quoted him saying. |
| Almost 50,000 people have entered Croatia since Hungary sealed its border with Serbia. | Almost 50,000 people have entered Croatia since Hungary sealed its border with Serbia. |
| #Croatia update: Since #refugeecrisis begun, 49.000 #refugees entered land until 6am this morning. That's almost 50.000 in less than a week. | #Croatia update: Since #refugeecrisis begun, 49.000 #refugees entered land until 6am this morning. That's almost 50.000 in less than a week. |
| Meanwhile, Hungary continues to build a new fence with Croatia. | Meanwhile, Hungary continues to build a new fence with Croatia. |
| 10,046 #refugees crossed into #Hungary Weds - a new record. Mw fence almost finished http://t.co/L66Df5gjwq v @NickFT pic.twitter.com/TQnI8uONDL | 10,046 #refugees crossed into #Hungary Weds - a new record. Mw fence almost finished http://t.co/L66Df5gjwq v @NickFT pic.twitter.com/TQnI8uONDL |
| 9.56am BST09:56 | 9.56am BST09:56 |
| UNHCR expresses disappointment | UNHCR expresses disappointment |
| The UN’s refugee agency has expressed its dismay at the failure of the EU summit to agree on ways offering refugees legal protection. | The UN’s refugee agency has expressed its dismay at the failure of the EU summit to agree on ways offering refugees legal protection. |
| In a carefully-worded statement the UNHCR welcomed the allocation of extra resources and the decision to ratify the binding quota plan but it said much more was needed. | In a carefully-worded statement the UNHCR welcomed the allocation of extra resources and the decision to ratify the binding quota plan but it said much more was needed. |
| It said: | It said: |
| UNHCR is disappointed that, notwithstanding relocation, no further measures have been proposed to create more legal pathways for refugees to reach safety in Europe. UNHCR urges a substantial and rapid increase in legal opportunities for refugees to access the EU, including enhanced resettlement and humanitarian admission, family reunification, private sponsorship, and humanitarian and student visas. | UNHCR is disappointed that, notwithstanding relocation, no further measures have been proposed to create more legal pathways for refugees to reach safety in Europe. UNHCR urges a substantial and rapid increase in legal opportunities for refugees to access the EU, including enhanced resettlement and humanitarian admission, family reunification, private sponsorship, and humanitarian and student visas. |
| The international community as a whole should adopt the type of exceptional response which had been used in other humanitarian crises. Without such avenues, refugees will continue to be left with few options, and the increase in international efforts to crack down on smugglers and traffickers is unlikely to be effective ... | The international community as a whole should adopt the type of exceptional response which had been used in other humanitarian crises. Without such avenues, refugees will continue to be left with few options, and the increase in international efforts to crack down on smugglers and traffickers is unlikely to be effective ... |
| In relation to strengthening border control at the EU external border, UNHCR insists that the management of borders needs to be consistent with national, EU and international law, including guaranteeing the right to seek asylum. | In relation to strengthening border control at the EU external border, UNHCR insists that the management of borders needs to be consistent with national, EU and international law, including guaranteeing the right to seek asylum. |
| António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, added: | António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, added: |
| “The relocation plan will not put an end to the problem, but it hopefully will be the beginning of a solution ... | “The relocation plan will not put an end to the problem, but it hopefully will be the beginning of a solution ... |
| Much more needs to be done. The plan can only work if, at entry points in Europe, robust facilities are created to receive, assist, register and screen people. These facilities must have a capacity that could handle the current average 5,000 people arriving every day by boat. They must also offer those in need of international protection a credible alternative to the present chaotic journeys across border after border at the mercy of criminal smugglers.” | Much more needs to be done. The plan can only work if, at entry points in Europe, robust facilities are created to receive, assist, register and screen people. These facilities must have a capacity that could handle the current average 5,000 people arriving every day by boat. They must also offer those in need of international protection a credible alternative to the present chaotic journeys across border after border at the mercy of criminal smugglers.” |
| 9.36am BST09:36 | 9.36am BST09:36 |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has further underlined divisions in Europe by saying the plan to relocate 120,000 refugees can only be the first step and that much more needs to be done. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has further underlined divisions in Europe by saying the plan to relocate 120,000 refugees can only be the first step and that much more needs to be done. |
| Speaking to parliament she said: “I am deeply convinced that what Europe needs is not just selective relocation of this kind, but much more a durable process for fairly distributing refugees among member states. A first step has been taken, but we are still far from where we should be.” | Speaking to parliament she said: “I am deeply convinced that what Europe needs is not just selective relocation of this kind, but much more a durable process for fairly distributing refugees among member states. A first step has been taken, but we are still far from where we should be.” |
| The relocation plan was forced through in the face of objections from central and eastern European states and threats of court action from Slovakia. | The relocation plan was forced through in the face of objections from central and eastern European states and threats of court action from Slovakia. |
| Merkel also appeared to criticise Hungary by noting that minimum standards for the accommodation and care of refugees “are not always met at EU borders”. | Merkel also appeared to criticise Hungary by noting that minimum standards for the accommodation and care of refugees “are not always met at EU borders”. |
| In remarks aimed at eastern Europe, Merkel also said the potential benefits resulting from the influx of migrants far outweigh any dangers. | In remarks aimed at eastern Europe, Merkel also said the potential benefits resulting from the influx of migrants far outweigh any dangers. |
| “The opportunities are much bigger than the risks, we just have to recognise and use them,” she told the Bundestag. | “The opportunities are much bigger than the risks, we just have to recognise and use them,” she told the Bundestag. |
| 9.10am BST09:10 | 9.10am BST09:10 |
| Angelique Chrisafis | Angelique Chrisafis |
| A young African man trying to reach the UK from Calais was killed when he was hit by a freight train at the Eurotunnel site in the early hours of this morning, writes Angelique Chrisafis in Paris. | A young African man trying to reach the UK from Calais was killed when he was hit by a freight train at the Eurotunnel site in the early hours of this morning, writes Angelique Chrisafis in Paris. |
| Local authorities told AFP the man died at around 2am. An investigation is underway. The man was not carrying identification papers but officials said he might have been Eritrean or Sudanese. At least 11 refugees or migrants have now died in Calais since the end of June. | Local authorities told AFP the man died at around 2am. An investigation is underway. The man was not carrying identification papers but officials said he might have been Eritrean or Sudanese. At least 11 refugees or migrants have now died in Calais since the end of June. |
| 9.03am BST09:03 | 9.03am BST09:03 |
| Croatia-Serbia border dispute worsens | Croatia-Serbia border dispute worsens |
| The tit-for-tat border disputes between Croatia and Serbia is getting worse. Reuters reports: | The tit-for-tat border disputes between Croatia and Serbia is getting worse. Reuters reports: |
| Croatia has banned Serbian citizens and cars from entering the country after Serbia banned Croatian cargo traffic in a growing dispute over the huge flow of migrants across their joint border. | Croatia has banned Serbian citizens and cars from entering the country after Serbia banned Croatian cargo traffic in a growing dispute over the huge flow of migrants across their joint border. |
| “Serbian passport holders and cars registered in Serbia cannot enter Croatia until further notice,” a police officer told Reuters by telephone from Bajakovo, the main crossing point between the two ex-Yugoslav republics. | “Serbian passport holders and cars registered in Serbia cannot enter Croatia until further notice,” a police officer told Reuters by telephone from Bajakovo, the main crossing point between the two ex-Yugoslav republics. |
| Serbia banned Croatian cargo traffic and goods late on Wednesday, helping plunge bilateral relations to their lowest point since the overthrow of late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. | Serbia banned Croatian cargo traffic and goods late on Wednesday, helping plunge bilateral relations to their lowest point since the overthrow of late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. |
| Belgrade imposed its embargo in retaliation for border restrictions levied by European Union member Croatia, which has hit out at its eastern neighbour for directing the flow of migrants coming up through the Balkan peninsula over their joint border. | Belgrade imposed its embargo in retaliation for border restrictions levied by European Union member Croatia, which has hit out at its eastern neighbour for directing the flow of migrants coming up through the Balkan peninsula over their joint border. |
| Zagreb had banned all trucks but those carrying perishable goods from entering the country from Serbia and shut seven of eight road border crossings, saying Serbia should direct the migrants to Hungary and Romania too. | Zagreb had banned all trucks but those carrying perishable goods from entering the country from Serbia and shut seven of eight road border crossings, saying Serbia should direct the migrants to Hungary and Romania too. |
| “I am sorry about this. We had planned to open the border today but now we have to react to this,” Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, whose centre-left cabinet faces a parliamentary election this year, said after Serbia imposed the ban. | “I am sorry about this. We had planned to open the border today but now we have to react to this,” Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, whose centre-left cabinet faces a parliamentary election this year, said after Serbia imposed the ban. |
| “There will be no war or violence, everything will be calm, but this is not normal behaviour (by Serbia),” Milanovic said on television from Brussels, where he was attending a summit of EU leaders. | “There will be no war or violence, everything will be calm, but this is not normal behaviour (by Serbia),” Milanovic said on television from Brussels, where he was attending a summit of EU leaders. |
| 8.58am BST08:58 | 8.58am BST08:58 |
| Hungary has expressed its frustration at the failure of the summit to agree a policy of protecting Europe’s borders. | Hungary has expressed its frustration at the failure of the summit to agree a policy of protecting Europe’s borders. |
| Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Zoltan Kovacs, spokesman for the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, said: “Very unfortunately we are still not able to address the basic issue and that is the protection, the control, of Europe’s borders. That was one point where there was no major achievement during the the summit.” | Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Zoltan Kovacs, spokesman for the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, said: “Very unfortunately we are still not able to address the basic issue and that is the protection, the control, of Europe’s borders. That was one point where there was no major achievement during the the summit.” |
| Kovacs underlined east-west divisions in Europe over border control by endorsing comments made by the Polish president of European Council Donald Tusk, who said Europe should “correct our policy of open doors and windows”. | Kovacs underlined east-west divisions in Europe over border control by endorsing comments made by the Polish president of European Council Donald Tusk, who said Europe should “correct our policy of open doors and windows”. |
| Kovacs said “Until you close the doors and windows you can’t cope with the consequences of any kind of draught. So yet again tens of thousands of people are still on the way. If you can’t cut that flood, if you are not able to control the influx of migrants to the European Union, everything else is just a second or third step.” | Kovacs said “Until you close the doors and windows you can’t cope with the consequences of any kind of draught. So yet again tens of thousands of people are still on the way. If you can’t cut that flood, if you are not able to control the influx of migrants to the European Union, everything else is just a second or third step.” |
| Kovacs also spelled out Hungary’s objections to the quota system agreed earlier this week in the face of opposition from central and eastern European states. | Kovacs also spelled out Hungary’s objections to the quota system agreed earlier this week in the face of opposition from central and eastern European states. |
| He said: “A quota system, if you are not closing the borders, is unable to answer any question because you don’t know how many migrants or refugees you have to handle.” | He said: “A quota system, if you are not closing the borders, is unable to answer any question because you don’t know how many migrants or refugees you have to handle.” |
| He claimed the quota system was “contributing to the pull factor” attracting refugees and migrants to come to Europe. And he said there will be practical problems in keeping refugees in the countries they are allocated to. | He claimed the quota system was “contributing to the pull factor” attracting refugees and migrants to come to Europe. And he said there will be practical problems in keeping refugees in the countries they are allocated to. |
| Kovacs also defended Orban for criticising Germany’s “moral imperialism” over the refugee crisis and the imposition of quotas on reluctant countries. “Moral imperialism is not good. The quota itself should not be a measure of solidarity,” Kovacs said. | Kovacs also defended Orban for criticising Germany’s “moral imperialism” over the refugee crisis and the imposition of quotas on reluctant countries. “Moral imperialism is not good. The quota itself should not be a measure of solidarity,” Kovacs said. |
| 8.14am BST08:14 | 8.14am BST08:14 |
| European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans has warned that failure to tackle the migration crisis will lead to a surge of right-wing extremism. | European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans has warned that failure to tackle the migration crisis will lead to a surge of right-wing extremism. |
| Timmermans also said that there needs to be better protection of the European Union’s borders to deal with the hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. | Timmermans also said that there needs to be better protection of the European Union’s borders to deal with the hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. |
| “We have to make sure that those countries where people arrive are better placed to make sure people are registered, that people who don’t have the right to asylum are returned swiftly,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme. | “We have to make sure that those countries where people arrive are better placed to make sure people are registered, that people who don’t have the right to asylum are returned swiftly,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme. |
| He said: “If we’re not able to tackle this issue, if we’re not able to find sustainable solutions, you will see a surge of the extreme right across the European continent.” | He said: “If we’re not able to tackle this issue, if we’re not able to find sustainable solutions, you will see a surge of the extreme right across the European continent.” |
| 8.05am BST08:05 | 8.05am BST08:05 |
| Belgium’s former prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt, who is now president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, has accused European leaders of failing to grasp the seriousness of the crisis. | Belgium’s former prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt, who is now president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, has accused European leaders of failing to grasp the seriousness of the crisis. |
| European leaders have failed to grasp the seriousness of this humanitarian crisis #EUCO #refugeecrisis | European leaders have failed to grasp the seriousness of this humanitarian crisis #EUCO #refugeecrisis |
| 1 billion commitment to UN is to be welcomed. But I didn't see solid commitments to fix Europe's broken #asylum & #migration system | 1 billion commitment to UN is to be welcomed. But I didn't see solid commitments to fix Europe's broken #asylum & #migration system |
| I'll keep repeating it: If we want to prevent break-up of #Schengen zone, the European Union needs a common asylum and #migration policy | I'll keep repeating it: If we want to prevent break-up of #Schengen zone, the European Union needs a common asylum and #migration policy |
| 7.58am BST07:58 | 7.58am BST07:58 |
| Record numbers arrive in Hungary | Record numbers arrive in Hungary |
| Hungary has reported a new record number of migrants after accepting busloads of people from Croatia. | Hungary has reported a new record number of migrants after accepting busloads of people from Croatia. |
| The Hungarian police said 10,046 people arrived in Hungary on Wednesday, beating the previous record set a day a before it sealed its border with Serbia last week. Since then refugees and migrants have been travelling to Croatia in the hope of reaching northern Europe. Croatia has been busing thousands of people to the Hungarian border where they are then taken on to Austria in Hungarian buses and trains. | The Hungarian police said 10,046 people arrived in Hungary on Wednesday, beating the previous record set a day a before it sealed its border with Serbia last week. Since then refugees and migrants have been travelling to Croatia in the hope of reaching northern Europe. Croatia has been busing thousands of people to the Hungarian border where they are then taken on to Austria in Hungarian buses and trains. |
| Austrian police told the BBC’s Bethany Bell that 7,000 people arrived from Hungary on Wednesday. | Austrian police told the BBC’s Bethany Bell that 7,000 people arrived from Hungary on Wednesday. |
| Austrian police tell me 7000 people have arrived in Austria from Hungary today at Nickelsdorf border crossing #refugeecrisis #migrantcrisis | Austrian police tell me 7000 people have arrived in Austria from Hungary today at Nickelsdorf border crossing #refugeecrisis #migrantcrisis |
| 7.48am BST07:48 | 7.48am BST07:48 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the refugee crisis. We will be covering all the fallout from the EU summit after it ended in a failure to agree a common policy on the crisis. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the refugee crisis. We will be covering all the fallout from the EU summit after it ended in a failure to agree a common policy on the crisis. |
| Here’s a roundup of the latest developments: | Here’s a roundup of the latest developments: |