European Union leaders have pledged at least $1.1bn to UN agencies to
help refugees in the Middle East and agreed on closer cooperation to
stem the flow of refugee into Europe at a summit described as less tense
than feared after weeks of feuding. Aljazeera has more:
Chairman Donald Tusk said the emergency meeting, which
ended early on Thursday after seven hours of talks in Brussels, was
“really excellent, for sure much better than we expected”. Tusk said he
had heard “very substantial and energetic” exchanges between the
Austrian and Hungarian leaders, whose common border was among those
affected by refugees this summer, but not the mutual recrimination that
has threatened to tear apart the bloc’s cherished passport-free Schengen
zone.
“Today’s meeting and this atmosphere are a very positive sign,” said
European Council President Tusk, a former prime minister of
Poland. “It’s quite a symbolic moment for me as it’s clear we have
stopped this risky blame game.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, criticised by some eastern
neighbours for what they saw as actions that have fuelled the influx of
people trying to reach Germany, voiced satisfaction: “We know that the
problem is not solved with the decision taken. But we have taken one of
many necessary steps. “I got the feeling that we want to tackle this
task together.”
No comments:
Post a Comment