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Migrant crisis dominates as EU holds final summit of 2015 Migrant crisis dominates as EU holds final summit of 2015
(about 3 hours later)
Germany and seven other EU nations are meeting Turkey to discuss ways of settling thousands of Syrian refugees ahead of the final EU summit of 2015. EU leaders are gathering in Brussels for an end-of-year summit focused on tackling Europe's migrant crisis.
Leaders attending will discuss a proposal to resettle Syrians straight from camps in Turkey. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders from seven other EU nations held a special meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the driving force behind the plans, faces resistance from other EU states. One proposal being considered is for the EU to resettle Syrian refugees directly from camps in Turkey - but some countries oppose this.
Thursday's full EU summit in Brussels is set to focus heavily on the migrant crisis, which has divided members. Other topics include plans for an EU border force and the UK reform agenda.
Record numbers of people have arrived in Europe this year, prompting some states to build fences and introduce border controls in defiance of the EU's border-free Schengen area. More than 900,000 people have arrived in Europe this year, prompting some states to build fences and introduce border controls in defiance of the EU's border-free Schengen area.
The resettlement proposal would see EU countries accept Syrian refugees directly from Turkey under a voluntary scheme. The Paris attacks in November have also heightened security concerns across the bloc.
More palatable
Arriving for the summit, French President Francois Hollande said he supported the European Commission's proposal for a beefed up border force.
"We must equally respect the promises which we have already made - notably regarding refugees who need to be resettled," he added.
The latest resettlement plan would see EU countries accept Syrian refugees directly from Turkey under a voluntary scheme.
It is hoped the plan will stop people making the dangerous sea journey to Greece and will be more palatable for EU members than obligatory quotas.It is hoped the plan will stop people making the dangerous sea journey to Greece and will be more palatable for EU members than obligatory quotas.
Turkey and eight EU nations - including Germany, Sweden and Greece - are holding a special meeting to discuss the migration crisis before the full summit. Efforts to relocate 160,000 refugees who have already arrived in Europe are moving extremely slowly - so far only around 200 have actually been transferred from one country to another.
EU Parliament President Martin Schulz said Thursday's so-called "mini-summit" was "not a split but a consequence of lack of solidarity". A report to be delivered to the summit says a €3bn (£2.1bn) deal with Turkey has had little success reducing the flow of refugees and migrants to Greece.
European leaders are struggling to maintain unity after a tumultuous year of negotiations, reports the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels. The deal last month saw Ankara agree to try to prevent migrants leaving its territory in exchange for financial aid and political concessions.
Turkey and European leaders struck a controversial deal last month in which Ankara tries to prevent migrants leaving its borders in exchange for financial aid and political concessions. Turkey and eight EU nations - including Germany, Sweden and Greece - held a special meeting to discuss the crisis before Thursday's full summit.
But plans for resettlement will only move forward if Turkey takes decisive steps to cut off the illegal flow of people crossing the Aegean Sea, our correspondent says. 'Vulnerable
'No good alternative' Ahead of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk said he supported the plan for a stronger EU border force and coast guard.
The wider EU summit will discuss European Commission plans to create an EU coast guard, and other ways to strengthen external borders. "Europe cannot remain vulnerable when Schengen states are not able to effectively protect their borders," he said.
The fight against terrorism is also expected to dominate the summit after it emerged that at least two of the Paris attackers used the migrant route to travel to France. The fight against terrorism is also expected to dominate after it emerged that at least two of the Paris attackers used the migrant route to travel to France.
However Mr Tusk was to keep migration and terror as separate issues, writing in his summit invitation: "The protection of our external borders is not intended to scare off those who flee wars or persecution".
Many migrants are fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
At a glance: The summit agendaAt a glance: The summit agenda
Ahead of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk said: "There is no good alternative to border protection. As a tumultuous year draws to a close, European leaders are struggling to maintain unity, reports the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels.
"Europe cannot remain vulnerable when Schengen states are not able to effectively protect their borders." Nearly a million migrants and refugees have arrived on European shores after crossing the Mediterranean, according to the UN's refugee agency. Most then travel north via the Western Balkans to countries such as Germany and Sweden.
However he has been keen to keep migration and terror as separate issues, writing in his summit invitation: "The protection of our external borders is not intended to scare off those who flee wars or persecution". Speaking to German daily Die Welt, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann warned that eastern European countries could lose some EU budget funds if they refused to share the burden of accommodating migrants.
Many migrants are themselves fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, seeking to reach northern Europe. "Solidarity isn't a one-way street," he said.
The summit will also discuss British efforts to renegotiate its membership of the EU before holding a referendum, by the end of 2017, on whether to stay or leave.The summit will also discuss British efforts to renegotiate its membership of the EU before holding a referendum, by the end of 2017, on whether to stay or leave.
Leaders discuss Cameron's reformsLeaders discuss Cameron's reforms
"We want a fair deal with Britain and this fair deal has to be a fair deal with other countries," Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European Commission, said ahead of the summit, adding that he did not want the UK to leave."We want a fair deal with Britain and this fair deal has to be a fair deal with other countries," Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European Commission, said ahead of the summit, adding that he did not want the UK to leave.
Chancellor Merkel has stressed the "enormous importance" of avoiding a British exit but said she was not prepared to give in to all of Prime Minister David Cameron's demands for reform.Chancellor Merkel has stressed the "enormous importance" of avoiding a British exit but said she was not prepared to give in to all of Prime Minister David Cameron's demands for reform.