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Migrant crisis: Dutch plan for return ferry to Turkey Migrant crisis: Dutch plan for return ferry to Turkey
(35 minutes later)
Migrants and refugees arriving on the Greek islands would immediately be sent back by ferry to Turkey, under a Dutch plan aimed at solving the crisis.Migrants and refugees arriving on the Greek islands would immediately be sent back by ferry to Turkey, under a Dutch plan aimed at solving the crisis.
Under the proposal, Labour party leader Diederik Samsom says that in return the EU would offer to take in up to 250,000 refugees currently in Turkey.Under the proposal, Labour party leader Diederik Samsom says that in return the EU would offer to take in up to 250,000 refugees currently in Turkey.
More than 850,000 people arrived on the Greek islands from Turkey last year.More than 850,000 people arrived on the Greek islands from Turkey last year.
The plan would need to be in place by spring, before the next surge in numbers is expected, he says.The plan would need to be in place by spring, before the next surge in numbers is expected, he says.
Already some 46,000 have reached Greece in January. Most arrivals are fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.Already some 46,000 have reached Greece in January. Most arrivals are fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Two hundred people have drowned trying to get to Greece last year and more deaths were reported on Thursday.Two hundred people have drowned trying to get to Greece last year and more deaths were reported on Thursday.
The Greek coast guard said 13 people including eight children had drowned off the island of Samos. Eighteen bodies, including those of nine children, were recovered by the Greek coast guard after a boat sank off Samos, according to reports.
The EU's Frontex border agency was helping search for survivors and 10 people were said to have been rescued.
On Wednesday, a draft European Commission report said Greece had "seriously neglected" its obligations to control the external frontier of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone. But Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili accused the Commission of "blame games".On Wednesday, a draft European Commission report said Greece had "seriously neglected" its obligations to control the external frontier of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone. But Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili accused the Commission of "blame games".
The Dutch proposals "to force a solution" to the migrant crisis came as the Swedish authorities said as many as 80,000 people who arrived their last year could fail in their requests for asylum and face deportation.The Dutch proposals "to force a solution" to the migrant crisis came as the Swedish authorities said as many as 80,000 people who arrived their last year could fail in their requests for asylum and face deportation.
Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said charter aircraft would be used to deport the migrants but it would take several years.Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said charter aircraft would be used to deport the migrants but it would take several years.
Mikael Ribbenvik, head of operations at the Swedish Migration Agency, told the BBC that assessing all the asylum applications would be "an enormous feat to accomplish" and would require more resources from the government.Mikael Ribbenvik, head of operations at the Swedish Migration Agency, told the BBC that assessing all the asylum applications would be "an enormous feat to accomplish" and would require more resources from the government.
"A lot of people leave voluntarily and a lot of people abscond. And then we have a few people staying on who are impossible to remove because of identification purposes," he said."A lot of people leave voluntarily and a lot of people abscond. And then we have a few people staying on who are impossible to remove because of identification purposes," he said.
'Realistic chance''Realistic chance'
The Dutch plan, said to have the support of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, would depend on Turkey having the status of a safe country for refugees, which would mean that they could be sent back from Greece under UN charters. Only one EU country currently considers Turkey safe.The Dutch plan, said to have the support of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, would depend on Turkey having the status of a safe country for refugees, which would mean that they could be sent back from Greece under UN charters. Only one EU country currently considers Turkey safe.
Diederik Samsom, whose Labour party is in coalition with Mr Rutte's liberal VVD, told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant there was a "realistic chance" that a change in EU policy could be ready by March or April.Diederik Samsom, whose Labour party is in coalition with Mr Rutte's liberal VVD, told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant there was a "realistic chance" that a change in EU policy could be ready by March or April.
The Dutch government holds the EU presidency and Mr Samsom has apparently been working on the plan with Prime Minister Rutte since last month. Mr Samsom said Turkey would be willing to accept the return of migrants and refugees, as long as the EU took in 150,000 to 250,000 per year. The Dutch government holds the EU presidency and Mr Samsom has apparently been working on the plan with Prime Minister Rutte since last month.
He said there had to be an end to the tide of makeshift boats arriving on the Greek coast. "The Aegean Sea has become a mass grave, 3,700 people died there last year," he told Dutch radio. Mr Rutte said last week that the EU had six to eight weeks to reach agreement on how to tackle immigration, and if it was unable to, "we have to think about a plan B".
Mr Samsom said Turkey would be willing to accept the return of migrants and refugees, as long as the EU took in 150,000 to 250,000 per year. The Turkish prime minister is due to visit the Netherlands next month.
The Dutch Labour leader said there had to be an end to the tide of makeshift boats arriving on the Greek coast. "The Aegean Sea has become a mass grave, 3,700 people died there last year," he told Dutch radio.
Intense discussions about the plan are said to have taken place with the German, Austrian and Swedish governments, and Mr Rutte has apparently brought it up at top EU level.Intense discussions about the plan are said to have taken place with the German, Austrian and Swedish governments, and Mr Rutte has apparently brought it up at top EU level.
Several EU states reject the idea of quotas for refugees, but Mr Samsom said as long as a group of 10 countries agreed to it, it could work. Several EU states reject the idea of quotas for refugees, but Mr Samsom said as long as a group of 10 countries agreed to it, it could work. Those member states unwilling to take in refugees would help shoulder the cost of care.
He named France, Italy, Spain and Portugal as other countries that might be prepared to take in refugees, along with Germany, Sweden and Austria.
Swedish controlsSwedish controls
Some 163,000 migrants applied for asylum in Sweden in 2015, the highest per capita number in Europe.Some 163,000 migrants applied for asylum in Sweden in 2015, the highest per capita number in Europe.
The numbers have fallen significantly since Sweden imposed tighter border controls this year.The numbers have fallen significantly since Sweden imposed tighter border controls this year.
Along with Germany, the Scandinavian country is a prime destination for refugees and other migrants entering the EU illegally.Along with Germany, the Scandinavian country is a prime destination for refugees and other migrants entering the EU illegally.
Of the approximately 58,800 asylum claims processed in Sweden last year, 55% were accepted.Of the approximately 58,800 asylum claims processed in Sweden last year, 55% were accepted.
Of those whose asylum requests were expected to fail, Mr Ygeman was quoted in Swedish media as saying: "We are talking about 60,000 people but the number could climb to 80,000."Of those whose asylum requests were expected to fail, Mr Ygeman was quoted in Swedish media as saying: "We are talking about 60,000 people but the number could climb to 80,000."
But he later tweeted to say he had not taken a position on how many migrants had grounds for asylum, it being a matter for the authorities and the courts.But he later tweeted to say he had not taken a position on how many migrants had grounds for asylum, it being a matter for the authorities and the courts.
Sweden earlier this week became the latest of a number of European nations to see tensions over migrants heightened by violence. A 15-year-old asylum seeker was arrested in Molndal, near Gothenburg, after a 22-year-old asylum centre employee was stabbed to death.Sweden earlier this week became the latest of a number of European nations to see tensions over migrants heightened by violence. A 15-year-old asylum seeker was arrested in Molndal, near Gothenburg, after a 22-year-old asylum centre employee was stabbed to death.
Which countries are in the Schengen zone?Which countries are in the Schengen zone?
Where Europe is failing on migrantsWhere Europe is failing on migrants