European interior ministers set to meet on migrant quotas

(Baonghean.vn) - Ahead of the meeting of Interior Ministers in Brussels, Belgium, disagreements have arisen over the quota for allocating about 120,000 migrants. Meanwhile, Hungary has authorized its army to prevent the flow of migrants at the border areas.

Disagreements arose over quotas for the distribution of some 120,000 migrants pouring into Europe ahead of a meeting of interior ministers in Brussels, Belgium on September 22. Photo: dpa.

After talks broke down last week, EU interior ministers hope to reach an agreement on the ongoing migration crisis on September 22.

Speaking in Berlin on September 21, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Europe needed to agree on a “generous quota” so that the bloc could “fulfill its humanitarian obligations”.

Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic have all opposed plans to distribute migrants across the EU. Until this week, Hungary was a major gateway into the EU for people fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Since it closed its border with Serbia last week, neighboring Croatia has seen a massive influx of up to 300,000 migrants, many of whom are trying to reach Slovenia and from there on to Austria and Germany.

Hungary has faced international criticism after clashes between migrants and police at border crossings. On September 21, Budapest gave its army and police new powers in an effort to stop migrants. The new rules allow the use of non-lethal weapons, rubber bullets, artillery shells and tear gas. Police can also conduct house searches to check for suspected illegal migrants.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that Europe is being “devastated” by the worst migration crisis since World War II. Shortly after Orban’s announcement on September 21, the United Nations (UN) urged Europe to show “leadership and compassion” towards migrants. “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation for migrants arriving in Europe,” the UN said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also raised concerns about closed borders to migrants and lack of facilities, as well as the growing number of migrants being detained.

After meeting in Brussels on September 22, European government leaders will hold an emergency summit on September 23, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande expected to address the EU about the dangers it faces. It will be the first joint speech by the German chancellor and French president since 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Thu Giang

(According to Reuters, AFP)