Merkel presses EU deal on migration
BRUSSELS — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday she would seek direct deals with separate European Union (EU) states on migration, conceding the bloc had failed to find a joint solution to the issue threatening her government.
Since Mediterranean arrivals spiked in 2015, when more than a million refugees and migrants reached the bloc, EU leaders have been at odds over how to handle them. The feud has weakened their unity and undermined Europe’s Schengen free-travel area.
Sixteen EU leaders met for emergency talks in Brussels on Sunday hoping to get a deal for the full summit of all 28 states on June 28- 29. They will endorse further tightening of their external borders and giving more money to foreign countries to prevent people from setting sail for Europe. But they cannot agree on how to share out those asylum seekers who make it.
Wealthy Germany is where the newly arrived mostly end up and Ms. Merkel is under pressure to curb the numbers. Her coalition partner is pushing for firmer action that could break her government.
“There will be bilateral and trilateral agreements, how can we help each other, not always wait for all 28 members,” she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron offered his backing, saying the solution should be “European” but it could just be several states together.
United Nations data shows only about 41,000 people have made it to the EU across the sea this year. But opinion polls show migration is the top concern of the EU’s 500 million citizens.
Since 2015, migration has decided elections across the bloc from Italy to Hungary, with voters favoring a tougher stance.
The EU has turned increasingly restrictive on asylum and pushed to curb arrivals, a strategy denounced by rights groups.
Italy has long struggled to cope with arrivals and its new populist government rejects any idea that would see it handle more people. Rome has started turning away ships with migrants rescued at sea, saying it should not be the sole EU entry point. Malta could accept some in the coming days, sources said. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who said he was leaving Brussels “decidedly satisfied,” also wants to drop the rules stipulating that the first EU country of arrival is responsible for any given person. He said those who refuse to take in some of the new arrivals should get less money from EU coffers, an idea that is anathema to the four ex-communist states in the east who do not want to host anyone. —