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Tuesday, 23.04.2024, 18:17
Zile: Juncker is not attempting to solve refugee problem, but is succeeding in fragmenting Europe
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Commenting the rumors of the proposed Juncker plan, Zile told LETA that Juncker has put issues of domestic politics above Europe's interests. ''If we look at the state of play by Juncker, we see that he is just obeying what German Chancellor Angela Merkel has demanded,'' Zile believes.
Asked whether Latvia should take-in additional refugees, the politician said that this was already known in the summer, and that the coalition has already discussed this. ''The discussions focused not as much on the 250 refugees Latvia is planning on taking in, but what will happen in September. I do not know if anyone had any kind of illusions. Juncker clearly said during the last session that the Council's decision on a voluntary division of refugees is not enough, and he will continue to push for quotas,'' said Zile.
The AFP news agency reports that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has proposed relocating 120,000 refugees from overstretched Italy, Greece and Hungary, a European source told AFP on Thursday.
The plan –- which comes on top of a Commission proposal in May for the relocation of 40,000 migrants –- is expected to be formally unveiled by Juncker during his State of the Union speech on September 9 after being approved by Commissioners, the source said.
"Because we have a very pressing situation for Italy, Hungary and Greece, there will be a proposal for emergency relocation for these three countries totalling 120,000," the source said.
News of the plan comes after EU president Donald Tusk called on member states Thursday to relocate at least 100,000 people, and after France and Germany agreed that binding migrant quotas are needed.
Under EU rules asylum applications must be processed by the country where a person first arrives.
Juncker's plan faces tough opposition, as EU leaders failed to agree on his proposal for compulsory quotas for the relocation of 40,000 refugees from Syria and Eritrea.
They agreed only at a summit in June to take 32,000 on a voluntary basis.
The relocation would be based on the same criteria as the May proposals, which include population size and economic output, the source said.
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