On Thursday, European Union leaders are expected to officially agree to take in 40,000 asylum-seekers from the growing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, according to a draft final summit statement. However, while the EU has agreed to take in people coming to the continent from Libya, the Balkans, and the Middle East, they have yet to decide how exactly they will spread the 40,000 people among EU member countries. Initially, EU leaders had planned to create a system of quotas that would ensure each of the 28 countries in the EU took on an equitable share of the displaced migrant group. This proposal was shot down by leaders at a recent Brussels summit, however, and EU countries can now participate on a voluntary basis.
Mostly, EU leaders are focusing on discouraging illegal immigration and only guaranteeing the stay of legitimate asylum seekers. At this point in time both Italy and Greece are inundated with asylum-seekers, with 24,000 in Italy and another 16,000 in Greece. While efforts to alleviate the burden somewhat from these two countries will help, it won't make much of a dent in the EU's overall numbers. The Guardian reports that last year more than 600,000 people sought asylum in the EU, and this year that number is expected to be even higher.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The ‘ravenous’ demand for Cornish mineralsUnder the Radar Growing need for critical minerals to power tech has intensified ‘appetite’ for lithium, which could be a ‘huge boon’ for local economy
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
