The national leaders of Europe have killed off plans for a new system of quotas in response to the soaring numbers of migrants reaching the continent from Libya, the Balkans and the Middle East.
Effectively telling Brussels to mind its own business on the politically toxic issue of immigration, a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday evening was due to bury calls for a more equitable system across the 28 countries.
“We have no consensus among member states on mandatory quotas for migrants,” said Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, who chaired the summit. “It will take much time to build a new European consensus on migration.”
Instead of discussing measures for a more organised and equitable system of taking people in, the leaders focused on how to keep people out and on deporting those who get in. “First and foremost, we need to contain illegal migration and this should be our priority. All those who are not legitimate asylum-seekers will have no guarantee that they will stay in Europe,” said Mr. Tusk.
Faced with an influx of migrants through the Balkans, Hungary has started building a four-metre high wire curtain along its border with Serbia, while Italy is struggling to cope with the the tens of thousands reaching its southern shores after risking their lives in unseaworthy vessels and crossing the Mediterranean from Libya.
Greece talksMeanwhile, talks between Greece and its Eurozone partners broke up on Thursday without agreement.
The negotiations will resume on Saturday. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2015 & AP
