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EU leaders struggle to agree on 1,500-strong border force to manage refugee crisis EU leaders struggle to agree on 1,500-strong border force to manage refugee crisis
(1 day later)
European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have struggled to agree controversial plans to create a new 1,500-strong rapid reaction force aimed at protecting borders and controlling migration. European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have struggled to agree controversial plans to create a new 1,500-strong rapid reaction force aimed at protecting borders and controlling migration. 
The proposed border guard would be sent to countries unable to secure their frontiers, potentially overriding national governments, but they have met fierce resistance from key EU leaders. The proposed border guard would be sent to countries unable to secure their frontiers, potentially overriding national governments, but they have met fierce resistance from key EU leaders. 
Hundreds of thousands of refugees have arrived unchecked on Greek and Italian shores this year, triggering a crisis across the EU, and threatening the passport-free Schengen zone. While leaders insist that asylum seekers should be registered and fingerprinted, they have baulked at the European Commission’s suggestions that a special EU guard should take up the task. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have arrived unchecked on Greek and Italian shores this year, triggering a crisis across the EU, and threatening the passport-free Schengen zone. While leaders insist that asylum seekers should be registered and fingerprinted, they have baulked at the European Commission’s suggestions that a special EU guard should take up the task. 
European Council President Donald Tusk, chairing the two-day summit in Brussels, admitted that the plan is a “most controversial idea” but insisted that the 26-member Schengen area needed to strengthen its outside perimeter. “Border protection is and should be in the first place the domain of national states,” he said. “But Europe cannot remain vulnerable when Schengen states are not able to effectively protect their borders. If we reject the Commission’s proposal, we will have to find another, but I’m afraid, an equally painful solution.”European Council President Donald Tusk, chairing the two-day summit in Brussels, admitted that the plan is a “most controversial idea” but insisted that the 26-member Schengen area needed to strengthen its outside perimeter. “Border protection is and should be in the first place the domain of national states,” he said. “But Europe cannot remain vulnerable when Schengen states are not able to effectively protect their borders. If we reject the Commission’s proposal, we will have to find another, but I’m afraid, an equally painful solution.”
The plans for a European Border and Coast Guard would nearly treble EU spending on frontier defence, and replace Frontex, the EU agency with limited powers to intervene in crises. Although the plan is backed by France and Germany, the two countries that usually drive initiatives through the EU, Italy, Greece, Poland and Croatia say they would infringe their constitutional rights to their own security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she didn’t expect a decision during the Brussels meeting, but she hoped the leaders would edge closer to backing the border agency. The plans for a European Border and Coast Guard would nearly treble EU spending on frontier defence, and replace Frontex, the EU agency with limited powers to intervene in crises. Although the plan is backed by France and Germany, the two countries that usually drive initiatives through the EU, Italy, Greece, Poland and Croatia say they would infringe their constitutional rights to their own security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she didn’t expect a decision during the Brussels meeting, but she hoped the leaders would edge closer to backing the border agency. 
Mrs Merkel was also optimistic that Turkey would play its part in helping to stem the number of illegal migrants entering the EU in the wake of the €3 billion October deal to prevent Turkish-based refugees from heading to Europe. Speaking after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and nine other EU leaders just before the summit, she said that talks with Ankara would focus on how to “strongly and significantly reduce” illegal migration as well as a mechanism for legal migration through voluntary quotas. Mrs Merkel was also optimistic that Turkey would play its part in helping to stem the number of illegal migrants entering the EU in the wake of the €3 billion October deal to prevent Turkish-based refugees from heading to Europe. Speaking after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and nine other EU leaders just before the summit, she said that talks with Ankara would focus on how to “strongly and significantly reduce” illegal migration as well as a mechanism for legal migration through voluntary quotas. 
Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border
A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany
Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees
A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos
A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said
Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year
Firemen carry the body of a child after refugees arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos. Greek leaders were among those at the meeting in Brussels
The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos
Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija
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A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija
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Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos
Reuters
An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey
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A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos
EPA
A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey
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Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija
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People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija
AP
Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day
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An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France
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A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea
EPA
Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey
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The leaders are meeting just one month after the Paris attacks that left 130 people dead, with some of those involved known to have travelled back from Syria, amongst refugees. The summit also takes place amid a surge in political populism that has linked the migration crisis to terrorism, suggesting that the Schengen passport-free system has jeopardised European security.The leaders are meeting just one month after the Paris attacks that left 130 people dead, with some of those involved known to have travelled back from Syria, amongst refugees. The summit also takes place amid a surge in political populism that has linked the migration crisis to terrorism, suggesting that the Schengen passport-free system has jeopardised European security.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says more than 920,000 people have entered the EU so far this year, many escaping the war in Syria. Some 770,000 migrants have landed in Greece alone, most of them arriving from Turkey. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says more than 920,000 people have entered the EU so far this year, many escaping the war in Syria. Some 770,000 migrants have landed in Greece alone, most of them arriving from Turkey. 
Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute in Washington, said a European border control agency was urgently needed, but he doubted it would ever have the manpower, equipment, or institutional capacity to secure external EU frontiers. “Imagining the EBCG as some sort of invading army that swoops in to take over Europe’s border control is a recipe for failure,” he said.Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute in Washington, said a European border control agency was urgently needed, but he doubted it would ever have the manpower, equipment, or institutional capacity to secure external EU frontiers. “Imagining the EBCG as some sort of invading army that swoops in to take over Europe’s border control is a recipe for failure,” he said.
Amnesty international, meanwhile, has warned that the protection of the EU’s external borders must not come at the expense of refugees’ rights. “Ensuring access to asylum is an obligation, not an option.” said Iverna McGowan, Acting Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. Amnesty international, meanwhile, has warned that the protection of the EU’s external borders must not come at the expense of refugees’ rights. “Ensuring access to asylum is an obligation, not an option.” said Iverna McGowan, Acting Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.