European leaders have completed emergency talks on the migrant crisis – but immediately faced warnings that the “greatest tide” of refugees is yet to come.
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During their meeting at Chequers, the British prime minister’s country residence, Hollande and Cameron will compare notes on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Syria as well as cooperation with neighbouring states to stem the flow of refugees, the diplomat said.
Before the summit in Brussels, David Cameron committed an extra £115 million to tackle the emergency, which the Prime Minister announced as he arrived at the summit.
Arriving in Brussels for the meeting of 28 leaders, Mr Cameron urged them to provide more support to vulnerable people in Syria and the wider region.
“Where those claims are not accepted and agreed, we do think the European countries need to be looking at what is the process of returns and removing those people“, she said.
Johannes Hahn, the commissioner responsible for ties with the EU’s neighbors, said Wednesday that “this is a signal and hopefully will stimulate our member states to do the same”, and push the total to 1 billion euros.
He forecast agreement on more help for refugees who stay in the Middle East, via funds for United Nations agencies, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and others. While Syrians have been desperate for a political change in the U.S.’s hands-off foreign policy, a more complex proposition, the refugee crisis can be much simpler to address in the short-term.
EU’s interior ministers on Tuesday voted by a majority in favour of the quota system, which will see 120,000 migrants in Italy, Greece and Hungary redistributed to other member states.
Britain – which is not required to take part as it it not part of the “borderless” Schengen area – has exercised its right to opt out.
A statement said: “We decided on a number of immediate priorities and had an in-depth discussion on how to achieve long-term sustainable solutions”.
Even if we were to avoid going to active war against Assad’s forces (against all odds), everyone seems to ignore the fact that a “no-fly zone” will reportedly require 70,000 U.S. troops.
The Head of the LGA’s refugee task group, Dave Simmonds, said: “We are pressing [the] Government on exactly how the scheme will operate”.
Mr Farage replied: ” On a strict refugee definition no, although I have heard some ludicrous comments from Mr Juncker and Mr Cameron that religion should not be a part of this.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage expressed concerns over the options open to Christians seeking sanctuary.
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“Is it not worrying that Europe is not able to keep Europe Christian?”
