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EU to announce migrant quota plan details Migrant crisis: EU asks states to accept 40,000 asylum seekers
(about 9 hours later)
The European Commission is to announce details of its controversial plans to relocate tens of thousands of migrants who have reached southern Europe from Africa and the Middle East. The European Commission has called on EU member states to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who land in Italy and Greece over the next two years.
It is being reported that 40,000 asylum seekers would be spread across the EU countries through a quota system. Germany, France and Spain would receive the most migrants under the Commission's latest plan.
The British government says that it will opt out of the relocation plans.
The idea of using quotas to resettle those who have made it to Europe has caused controversy in some EU states.The idea of using quotas to resettle those who have made it to Europe has caused controversy in some EU states.
France, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia have all voiced concerns. The UK government says that it will not take part in such a system.
The quota plan is in addition to moves announced earlier this month by the EU for a voluntary scheme to settle 20,000 people fleeing conflict who are currently living outside the EU. France, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia have also all voiced concerns, and a final decision will be taken by EU governments after a vote by MEPs.
Denmark has the right to opt out of the plan while Ireland and the UK can decide whether they wish to opt in.
Sudden influx
The plan applies to Syrian and Eritrean nationals who arrive in Italy or Greece after 15 April 2015. The Commission said it could also apply to Malta if it also faced a sudden influx of migrants.
This is in addition to moves announced earlier this month by the EU for a voluntary scheme to settle 20,000 refugees fleeing conflict who are currently living outside the EU.
Of the 40,000 migrants considered "in clear need of international protection", the Commission says:
Countries would receive €6,000 (£4,250) for every person relocated on their territory under the latest proposal, the commission said.
More than 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean in 2015 - a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014.More than 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean in 2015 - a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014.
Some 60,000 people have already tried to make the perilous crossing this year, the UN estimates.Some 60,000 people have already tried to make the perilous crossing this year, the UN estimates.
Many are trying to escape conflict or poverty in countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia.Many are trying to escape conflict or poverty in countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia.
The Commission, the EU's executive body, is on Wednesday due to publish the full details of what is being called the European Agenda on Migration. Naval force
Among the proposals is an action plan to stop smuggling gangs, if necessary by military force, inside Libyan territorial waters. The Commission said Italy and Greece were facing an exceptional level of migration, with Italy seeing a 277% rise in irregular border crossings from 2013 to 2014 and Greece seeing an increase of 153%.
But the BBC's Europe Reporter Gavin Lee says that the issue likely to cause most controversy is the mandatory quota system, whereby all 28 EU countries, including the UK, would be allocated a specific number of asylum seekers currently in Italy, Greece and Malta.
British International Development Secretary Justine Greening criticised the approach, arguing that it would only serve to encourage more migrants to risk their lives in unseaworthy boats.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said European quotas to resettle refugees within the EU were "wholly inadequate to the magnitude of this crisis," he said.
Some 7,000 people have been pulled out of the Mediterranean in the first three days of this month alone, he said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has also urged Europe to do more to help migrants, calling for search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean to be "further strengthened".UN chief Ban Ki-moon has also urged Europe to do more to help migrants, calling for search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean to be "further strengthened".
"I'm urging European leaders to address this issue in a more comprehensive way and a collective way," he said, adding that the "roots" of the problem in countries of origin must also be addressed."I'm urging European leaders to address this issue in a more comprehensive way and a collective way," he said, adding that the "roots" of the problem in countries of origin must also be addressed.
But UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening has rejected the European Commission's idea of mandatory quotas because she said it could act as a "pull for more migrants".
And French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said this month that asylum should be a right, not subject to quotas.
Earlier this month, EU ministers backed plans for a naval force to set up to combat smuggling gangs, if necessary by military force, inside Libyan territorial waters.