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Migrant crisis: Swedish border checks introduced | Migrant crisis: Swedish border checks introduced |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sweden has announced the introduction of temporary border checks to control the flow of migrants into the country. | Sweden has announced the introduction of temporary border checks to control the flow of migrants into the country. |
It said it took the step because a surge in new arrivals had resulted in a threat to public order. | It said it took the step because a surge in new arrivals had resulted in a threat to public order. |
At a summit in Malta, EU Council President Donald Tusk said that saving the EU's Schengen rules on free movement was a "race against time". | |
The EU has agreed to a €1.8bn (£1.3bn) fund to help Africa tackle "the root causes of irregular migration". | |
But some African leaders have already criticised the sum being offered as insufficient. | But some African leaders have already criticised the sum being offered as insufficient. |
Some 150,000 people from African countries such as Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia have crossed the Mediterranean from Africa this year, but this has been dwarfed by the arrival of some 650,000 people - mostly Syrians - via Turkey and Greece. | Some 150,000 people from African countries such as Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia have crossed the Mediterranean from Africa this year, but this has been dwarfed by the arrival of some 650,000 people - mostly Syrians - via Turkey and Greece. |
Tensions in the EU have been rising because of the pressures faced by those countries where most migrants initially arrive, particularly Greece, Italy and Hungary. Many then head to Germany or Sweden - the two nations regarded as the most welcoming to refugees - to claim asylum. | Tensions in the EU have been rising because of the pressures faced by those countries where most migrants initially arrive, particularly Greece, Italy and Hungary. Many then head to Germany or Sweden - the two nations regarded as the most welcoming to refugees - to claim asylum. |
Sweden said the controls it had introduced will come into effect from midday local time on Thursday and will last initially for 10 days. | |
Nearly 200,000 migrants are expected to arrive in Sweden this year, more per head of population than any other EU nation. | Nearly 200,000 migrants are expected to arrive in Sweden this year, more per head of population than any other EU nation. |
"This is not an issue for one or two or three countries - this is an issue for the whole European Union," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said at the Malta talks. "We need another system - that is obvious." | "This is not an issue for one or two or three countries - this is an issue for the whole European Union," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said at the Malta talks. "We need another system - that is obvious." |
Mr Tusk said recent developments in Sweden, Germany, Slovenia and elsewhere had shown "with utmost clarity the huge pressure member states are facing". | |
More on the migrant crisis | More on the migrant crisis |
Katya Adler - How Sweden's far-right has gained from the crisis | Katya Adler - How Sweden's far-right has gained from the crisis |
Crisis in graphics - Migrant countries of origin, routes and destinations | Crisis in graphics - Migrant countries of origin, routes and destinations |
Impact of arrivals - How one German city is coping | Impact of arrivals - How one German city is coping |
Swedish Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said the centre-left government had acted "in order to obtain security and stability... not to limit the number of asylum seekers, but to get better control of the flow of asylum seekers to Sweden". | Swedish Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said the centre-left government had acted "in order to obtain security and stability... not to limit the number of asylum seekers, but to get better control of the flow of asylum seekers to Sweden". |
Swedish immigration officials say the introduction of temporary border controls will help them register new arrivals and prevent people from staying in the country illegally. | Swedish immigration officials say the introduction of temporary border controls will help them register new arrivals and prevent people from staying in the country illegally. |
Fredrik Bengtsson, spokesman for the Swedish Migration Agency, said it was currently picking up people by bus at the border and driving them to its offices, but "once they get there quite a lot don't enter and get registered but disappear". | Fredrik Bengtsson, spokesman for the Swedish Migration Agency, said it was currently picking up people by bus at the border and driving them to its offices, but "once they get there quite a lot don't enter and get registered but disappear". |
Cash for help | Cash for help |
The summit of EU and African leaders in the Maltese capital Valletta was planned after about 800 people died in a migrant boat sinking off Libya in April. | The summit of EU and African leaders in the Maltese capital Valletta was planned after about 800 people died in a migrant boat sinking off Libya in April. |
It has been looking at ways to reduce the flow of migrants by helping tackle economic and security problems in African states, and at accelerating repatriation of failed asylum-seekers. | It has been looking at ways to reduce the flow of migrants by helping tackle economic and security problems in African states, and at accelerating repatriation of failed asylum-seekers. |
EU Council President Donald Tusk said the summit had agreed "a long list of very concrete actions to be implemented by the end of 2016". | EU Council President Donald Tusk said the summit had agreed "a long list of very concrete actions to be implemented by the end of 2016". |
"We are under no illusions that we can improve the situation overnight but we are committed to giving people alternatives to risking their lives," he said. | "We are under no illusions that we can improve the situation overnight but we are committed to giving people alternatives to risking their lives," he said. |
African leaders are insisting on a much clearer path for smaller numbers of their citizens to migrate officially to Europe. | African leaders are insisting on a much clearer path for smaller numbers of their citizens to migrate officially to Europe. |
Despite a series of high-level meetings over the migration crisis, the EU remains deeply divided on how to deal with the issue. | Despite a series of high-level meetings over the migration crisis, the EU remains deeply divided on how to deal with the issue. |
Hungary has been bitterly critical of Germany's announcement that it planned to send more Syrian refugees back to the first EU country they had entered, after reinstating the EU's Dublin Regulation on asylum. Berlin said this would not include Greece, the first point of entry for most migrants. | Hungary has been bitterly critical of Germany's announcement that it planned to send more Syrian refugees back to the first EU country they had entered, after reinstating the EU's Dublin Regulation on asylum. Berlin said this would not include Greece, the first point of entry for most migrants. |
Meanwhile, Slovenia began building a razor-wire fence along its border with Croatia, a day after the government said it would install "temporary technical obstacles", but stressed official border crossings would remain open and that the move was designed to restore order. | Meanwhile, Slovenia began building a razor-wire fence along its border with Croatia, a day after the government said it would install "temporary technical obstacles", but stressed official border crossings would remain open and that the move was designed to restore order. |
Croatia criticised the Slovenian fence, saying it would be better to spend money on preparing reception centres for migrants. | Croatia criticised the Slovenian fence, saying it would be better to spend money on preparing reception centres for migrants. |
EU leaders have agreed a controversial programme to relocate thousands of migrants - but so far only about 130 have been successfully moved from Greece and Italy. | EU leaders have agreed a controversial programme to relocate thousands of migrants - but so far only about 130 have been successfully moved from Greece and Italy. |
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. |