This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34904931

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Migrant crisis: 'EU cannot take any more refugees' Migrant crisis: France Valls warns on refugee numbers
(about 7 hours later)
European countries cannot accept any more refugees, the French prime minister has been quoted as saying. European countries cannot accept so many refugees, the French prime minister has been quoted as saying.
Manuel Valls said stricter control of the EU's external borders would determine the bloc's fate, in comments published by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Manuel Valls told journalists if stricter controls were not imposed on the EU's external borders, then people would say "enough of Europe".
Europe's border controls have come under renewed scrutiny since the attacks in Paris on 13 November.Europe's border controls have come under renewed scrutiny since the attacks in Paris on 13 November.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said that the Schengen agreement is "partly comatose". German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Mr Valls and President Francois Hollande in Paris on Wednesday evening.
Several EU countries have imposed border controls in recent week - despite the Schengen system of passport-free movement - amid the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants, many of whom are fleeing Syria and Iraq. Many of the hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees who have entered the EU since August have headed through the Western Balkans to Germany, which expects around one million asylum applications this year alone.
Some countries imposed new restrictions after a forged Syrian passport was found next to the body of one of the perpetrators involved in the Islamic State attacks on the French capital. "It was not France that said 'Come!'" Mr Valls said, indicating that the blame for the influx lay with Germany's change of policy towards accepting Syrian refugees.
Several EU countries have imposed border controls in recent weeks - despite the Schengen system of passport-free movement - in an attempt to reduce the number of arrivals.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament on Wednesday that the Schengen agreement was "partly comatose". And he warned that if it failed, then the euro could fail too.
"A single currency makes no sense if Schengen falls. It is one of the keystones of European construction," he said.
Schengen: Controversial EU free movement deal explainedSchengen: Controversial EU free movement deal explained
Katya Adler: What Paris attacks mean for EuropeKatya Adler: What Paris attacks mean for Europe
Prime Minister Valls told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung Europe had been stretched beyond its limits by the migrant crisis. Fears Europe's open borders could let in Islamic State militants among the large number of people crossing the continent in recent months were realised when it emerged that two of the bombers had recently entered Europe through Greece.
"We cannot accommodate any more refugees in Europe, that's not possible," he said, adding that tighter control of Europe's external borders was needed. Prime Minister Valls told Sueddeutsche Zeitung that Europe had been stretched beyond its limits by the migrant crisis.
"If we don't do that, the people will say: 'Enough of Europe'," Mr Valls warned. "We cannot accommodate any more refugees in Europe, that's not possible," he said. Mr Valls's office later said there had been an error in translation and he had intended to say that Europe could no longer take "so many refugees".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has meanwhile stressed the importance of a controversial plan to redistribute asylum seekers based on quotas, according to Reuters. Angela Merkel has meanwhile stressed the importance of a controversial plan to redistribute asylum seekers based on quotas.
She said the future of the Schengen agreement would be determined by the relocation scheme.She said the future of the Schengen agreement would be determined by the relocation scheme.
Increased strainIncreased strain
The International Organization of Migration reported a "drastic decrease" in the number of migrants arriving in Greece over the weekend.The International Organization of Migration reported a "drastic decrease" in the number of migrants arriving in Greece over the weekend.
But the UN's refugee agency told Reuters that talk of a decline may be "premature" amid indications that numbers climbed again on Monday and Tuesday.But the UN's refugee agency told Reuters that talk of a decline may be "premature" amid indications that numbers climbed again on Monday and Tuesday.
Most of the migrants land in Greece by boat and then travel through Europe to more affluent countries, mainly Germany and Sweden.Most of the migrants land in Greece by boat and then travel through Europe to more affluent countries, mainly Germany and Sweden.
Balkan countries, including Macedonia and Croatia, sparked human rights concerns last week by imposing new border restrictions - only allowing passage to people fleeing countries affected by war.Balkan countries, including Macedonia and Croatia, sparked human rights concerns last week by imposing new border restrictions - only allowing passage to people fleeing countries affected by war.
Hundreds of migrants stuck at the Greece-Macedonia border have staging protests, including by sewing their lips together. Hundreds of migrants stuck at the Greece-Macedonia border have staged protests, including by sewing their lips together.
Speaking during a debate on the Paris attacks in the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker said commitment to the Schengen agreement must be revived.
"Yes, the system is partly comatose," he said.
"But those who believe in Europe - those who believe in its values, its principles, and its freedoms - must try to breath new life into the spirit behind Schengen."
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.