The Latest: Serbian Minister Wants More Barriers to Migrants
The Latest: Serbian Minister Wants More Barriers to Migrants : The Latest on Europe’s migration crisis (all times local):
1:05 p.m.
A Serbian government minister says the Balkan country should consider applying “more drastic” measures, including border barriers, to reduce the number of migrants entering the country.
Labor minister Aleksandar Vulin said Wednesday that Serbia must avoid becoming “overcrowded” with stranded migrants who cannot move on toward the European Union.
Vulin says they are mostly so-called economic migrants, who fled their native countries in search of a better future in the EU, but stand little chance of being granted asylum in the bloc.
He says “it may be time to propose some more drastic measures which would substantially reduce the influx of migrants.” He adds that “perhaps barriers, or at least setting up some obstacles, could be one of the solutions.”
Nearly 5,000 migrants are currently in Serbia.
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12:30 p.m.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker insists Turkey must meet all conditions for its citizens to win visa-free travel in Europe, a key plank of the EU-Turkey migrant deal.
Juncker told EU lawmakers Wednesday that “visa liberalization will only happen if all of the necessary conditions are fulfilled by the Turkish side.”
But he also called for patience, saying Turkey has tough issues to resolve to meet the conditions, which include redefining what constitutes a terrorist act to ensure that journalists and academics are not targeted.
Turkey has been struck by several suicide bombings and a thwarted military coup in July and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is refusing to soften his line.
Juncker says he hopes Ankara will fulfil the visa waiver requirements, but acknowledged it might not happen “necessarily in the set timetable.”
The visa waiver was supposed to have been granted in July but was then delayed until October. EU and Turkish officials now say they expect it “in coming months.”
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11:55 a.m.
European Commission president has appealed for reinforcements to be sent to Bulgaria’s border to help manage migrant arrivals from Turkey.
Jean-Claude Juncker told EU lawmakers on Wednesday that he wants “to see at least 200 extra border guards and 50 extra vehicles deployed at the Bulgarian external borders as of October.”
He also appealed to member countries to get the EU’s new border and coast guard agency up and running as soon as possible.
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11:25 a.m.
Hungary’s anti-migration prime minister says the future of the European Union will be decided at Bulgaria’s border with Turkey, not in Brussels, and is urging the EU to provide more money to Bulgaria to help boost its border defense.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borisov inspected a fence topped with razor wire in the Bulgarian border village of Lesovo on Wednesday, part of a route used by migrants trying to enter the EU.
Orban said that “Bulgaria’s successful defense is in the common interest of all of us.”
Borisov, who is seeking immediate assistance of 160 million euros ($180 million) from the EU to bolster Bulgaria’s border security, said that “without joint efforts by all EU states, a lasting solution cannot be found.”
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10:40 a.m.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says solidarity cannot be imposed on EU member countries amid vehement opposition in some states to his refugee quota scheme.
Juncker told EU lawmakers Wednesday that “solidarity must be voluntary, must come from the heart.”
His Commission drew up an obligatory scheme to share 160,000 refugees in Greece and Italy and any other overwhelmed country among their EU partners over two years. Slovakia, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, and others have refused to take part. Hungary even launched a legal challenge.
One year on, fewer than 5,000 refugees have been moved.
Despite the about-face, Juncker appealed to EU nations to do their “fair share” and relocate refugees, and resettle others from places like Turkey.
Source : http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-hungary-bulgaria-turkey-border-key-eu-future-42077074
