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18:02 11.05.2017(updated 18:07 11.05.2017) Get short URL

STOCKHOLM (Sputnik) Earlier inthe day, the Council ofthe European Union allowed Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway toextend their internal border checks bysix months.

"I have no doubt that border control measures, alongsidetightening ofimmigration policy implemented bythe government, have a preventive impact onthe flow ofmigrants, which still stands atlow and therefore manageable level," Integration Minister Inger Stojberg was quoted assaying inthe press release.

Amid a major influx ofmigrants toEurope, the number ofindividuals who applied forasylum inDenmark in2015 exceeded 21,000. In response tothe migrant crisis, Denmark, aswell assome other EU countries, toughened its migration laws and temporarily reinstated border controls.

REUTERS/ Asger Ladefoged/Scanpix Denmark/Files

Europe has faced an unprecedented influx ofundocumented migrants fromthe Middle East and North Africa, fleeing their home countries toescape violence and poverty. Many migrants arrive bysea tothe shores ofmaritime states and try tomove further towealthier European countries, such asthe United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden.

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Migrant Crisis: Denmark Prolongs Control Measures on Border With ... - Sputnik International

BBC News

Migrant crisis: UN says 250 missing in shipwrecks BBC News The central Mediterranean route for illegal migration to Europe is currently the busiest. It is also one of the most deadly, the UN says. "Since the beginning of 2017, one person out of 35 has died on the sea journey from Libya to Italy," UN High ... and more »

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Migrant crisis: UN says 250 missing in shipwrecks - BBC News

Europe

19:08 09.05.2017 Get short URL

Following a conference inThessaloniki, Greece, May 8, onthe need for "a truly European solution tothe refugee crisis based onthe principle ofrespect forfundamental human rights," the president ofthe Global Progressive Forum, Socialists and Democrats, Enrique Guerrero Salom, said EU members had a duty toengage toresolve the crisis byworking together.

"Our duty is topromote a common progressive approach tothe refugee and migration crisis based onrespect forhuman rights and solidarity betweenEU institutions and member states. I express my gratitude tothe Greek people and authorities fortheir efforts and democratic approach tothis humanitarian crisis," said Salom.

"EU member states must now take uptheir responsibilities ina spirit ofsolidarity foraccelerated and steady relocation fromGreece and Italy. We must urgently find solutions especially interms ofrelocation and integration," he said.

"With a budget ofUS$272 million, this year our focus is ontwo key objectives: tomove refugees fromcamps torented accommodation and tomove away fromcatering toa cash system and communal kitchen facilities," European Commissioner forhumanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianidis said.

"Our commitment is tocontinue helping the Greek authorities intheir response tothe refugee crisis. We will continue toprovide our assistance tothose who need it most, ina neutral and impartial way," he said.

"We express our solidarity withthe Greek citizens, withthe local and regional authorities, withthe efforts ofthe Greek government. But we must push forrelocation tocontinue, forthe Dublin regulation totake intoaccount the realities ofthe present circumstances and foran initiative tolower tensions withTurkey. The precious agreement gives us time tobreathe, butwe must use this time wisely," said Socialist and Democrat (S&D) MEP Miltos Kyrkos.

The Commission, 2015, promoted the controversial scheme torelocate 160,000 fromItaly and Greece torelieve pressure onboth countries, butthe scheme has so far only relocated a little over16,000 just ten percent ofthe original target, which itself was reduced to98,255.

Disagreements

There are two relocation plans onthe EU agenda: the Greece-Italy relocations designed totake the weight offthose two counties and redistribute refugees acrossEU member states according toa mandatory quota system and the EU-Turkey deal torelocate "irregular migrants" (those refused asylum) back toTurkey inreturn ona one-for-one basis forSyrian refugees inTurkey being relocated aroundEU member states.

REUTERS/ Michalis Karagiannis

However, according tothe Commission, so far only 18,119 have been relocated underthe relocation scheme (as atMay 9, 2017). The Commission has threatened topunish any member state that still refuses toallocate spaces forrefugees bySeptember 2017 two years afterthe original agreement was made.

"Today we had an excellent discussion onthe safety ofour borders and the integration ofthe refugees " Our priority is toprotect the children, especially the unaccompanied ones, while maintaining a balance inour priorities and supporting the Greek and European people living inextreme poverty, sincecountries likeGreece and Italy have been guarding the borders formany years and the resulting cost ofthe migration crisis is unbearable. We need toexchange best practices and form a holistic strategy toface the crisis," said S&D MEP Eva Kaili.

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MEPs Call for Solidarity, 'Urgent Solution' Over Migrant Crisis - Sputnik International

From waves of dinghies setting off from Libya to the appearance of privately-funded rescue ships, the face of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean has changed greatly over the past few years.

Overcrowding dinghies

Up until 2014, people traffickers took migrants headed for Europe out into international waters on "mother ships" before transferring them to smaller boats.

But when Rome launched Mare Nostrum in late 2013, Italy began to catch smugglers in international waters, forcing the criminals to change tactics, stay in Libyan waters and put people out to sea in expendable rubber boats which easily sank.

Their business model changed too. In early 2015 many Syrians - who had previously accounted for about 25 percent of passengers departing from Libya and could afford to pay more for the journey - switched to the Balkan route.

Photo: Giovanni Isolino/AFP

To recover their loses in the central Mediterranean, traffickers upped the number of passengers per vessel. They also largely stopped issuing satellite phones, meaning those in trouble could not call for help.

In 2015 Italy's coast guard registered 676 dinghies - 80 percent of which had a satellite phone on board - carrying an average of 103 people. By 2016 the number of dinghies had risen to 1,094 - with only 45 percent carrying a satellite phone, but each with an average of 122 passengers.

Mass departures stretched rescue resources to the limits: over 13,000 people were saved in five days at the end of May 2016, another 14,000 in four days in August - including a record of 7,000 in one day - and 10,800 at the start of October.

Tragedies bring rescuers

In 2014, about 70 percent of migrants were rescued by the Italian navy and coast guard, and 24 percent by commercial ships. But amid complaints it was serving as a "bridge to Europe" for migrants, Italy axed Mare Nostrum.

The safety line was cut, but departures continued, and after two shipwrecks killed 1,200 people in April 2015 the European Union beefed up its Frontex border control's Operation Triton and launched the Sophia anti-smuggling operation.

The tragedies also prompted the launch of privately-funded rescue vessels, with up to a dozen boats taking part at present.

Photo: Andreas Solaro/AFP

The larger boats combined rescued 26 percent of migrants in 2016, while the smaller ones handed out life jackets and gave emergency care to those in distress while help from bigger vessels arrived.

Italy's navy and coast guard still perform 40 percent of rescues, while the Sophia operation carries out 13 percent and Frontex 7.5 percent, according to the coast guard.

Despite their efforts, over 4,500 migrants died or were missing and feared drowned in 2016, and another 1,000 have met the same fate this year. Some succumb to the cold or dehydration, or are suffocated by fuel fumes, or trapped in overcrowded boats.

READ MORE: Why Italy is seeing a surge in winter migrant arrivals

A profitable business

In total, nearly 550,000 migrants arrived in Italy between 2013 and 2016, and 37,000 have landed in the country so far this year.

Photo: AFP

According to Sophia, some Libyan coastal areas derive 50 percent of their income from smuggling migrants. A dinghy with 100 passengers can fetch up to 67,000 euros ($73,000), while a wooden boat with 400 people can earn up to 380,000 euros.

Frontex estimates the business has a turnover of between four and six billion euros.

READ MORE: Italy arrests suspected migrant traffickers for 'inhumane treatment'

EU's strategy

The European Union is in the process of training and equipping Libyan coast guards so they will be able to prevent departures or at least stop boats reaching international waters.

So far this year over 4,000 migrants have been intercepted, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

The idea is that they be escorted back to camps in Libya, and then returned to their home countries where possible.

But human rights organizations have said the chaotic situation in crisis-hit Libya makes it impossible to declare it a safe place to return migrants, while many of those fleeing war or persecution cannot be simply returned home.

By Fanny Carrier

READ ALSO: Meet the Italian doctor giving hope to thousands of migrants

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The changing face of the Mediterranean migrant crisis - The Local Italy

GETTY

The former Tory leader claimed the EU may cease to exist if the crisis is not resolved, and that the UK will play a key role as the future migration crisis is the one that will break the Schengen zone, the EU, and the mainstream leadership of Europe" if it is left to develop.

With the population across the Middle East and Africa expected to double over the course of 30 years an increase of one billion people according to Sir William, he warned the crisis could overwhelm Europe and may lead to Ms Le Pen coming to power in years to come.

REUTERS

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Geert Wilders wants to 'de-Islamicise' the Netherlands, hopes clashes between Turkish-Dutch protesters and the police, along with Ankara's accusations of Dutch 'fascism', will help bolster his chances of finishing first

Writing in the Telegraph, Sir Hague warned: "Those who imagine that the populist tide is now defeated will be in for a terrible shock unless people feel much better about the future in a few years time than they feel today."

He maintained that "populists, including Marine Le Pen, will be back with a vengeance", if Mr Macron refuses to take action.

Mr Macron, France's youngest ever president, is a strong supporter of the European Union.

The 39-year-old walked out to the EUs Anthem of Europe at his victory rally and used his first speech as president-elect to profess his support for the bloc.

Speaking to the public, he said: "I'll defend France, I'll defend Europe, and will strengthen links between Europe and its people."

Sir William was keen to highlight the initiatives Britain and France has previously embarked upon together to take in migrants from failed states, but that other Europeans need to do much more.

While there are no simple answers to the growing crisis, Mr Hague urged European countries to destroy people-smuggling operations and deter people from risking their lives in crowded boats that are not sea worthy.

GETTY

The former Tory leader downplayed Mr Macron's victory, claiming it was an unenthusiastic landslide because the independent candidate was elected for what he is not.

Sir William added: Rejection of established leaders and policies was the real story of this election, in a country with slow growth, high unemployment, excessive taxes, obstructive trade unions and growing cultural divisions."

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'Macron NEEDS Britain' Migrant crisis may lead to Le Pen victory in the future, Hague says - Express.co.uk