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Updated at 6:30pm
EU INTERIOR MINISTERS today approved by a “large majority” a plan to relocate 120,000 refugees around the bloc but only after overriding fierce opposition from central and eastern European countries.
“Decision on relocation for 120,000 persons adopted today, by large majority of member states,” the EU’s Luxembourg presidency said in a tweet.
“We, Slovaks, Romanians, Hungarians against, and Finland abstained. The resolution was accepted,” Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said in a separate tweet.
Irish response
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said today that she intends to seek Dáil and Seanad approval to formally opt into the plan next week.
Ireland has already committed to accepting up to 4,000 persons in need of international protection, including the 520 programme refugees currently being resettled in Ireland directly from refugee camps.
“At today’s meeting I stressed the need to show the world that the EU can act in a swift and decisive manner on an issue of such importance,” Fitzgerald said.
Unfortunately it was not possible to achieve a consensus but the vast majority of member states were in favour of the measure and it has been adopted by a majority vote.
Sweeping anti-migrant powers
The meeting came a day after Hungary said it was broadening the military’s powers to block the entry of migrants seeking passage to northern Europe.
Hundreds of thousands of people have already made it into western Europe this year, heaping pressure on countries along the migrant trail, some of whom have closed their borders, while others have sought to divert the flow elsewhere.
After sealing off its southern border with Serbia last week and passing a series of tough new anti-migrant laws, Hungary on Monday approved further legislation allowing the army to participate in border control.
It also gave troops the right to use rubber bullets, tear gas and net guns at the border “in a non-lethal way, unless it cannot be avoided”.
Last week, other legislation came into force allowing Hungary to jail anyone caught crossing the border illegally, which carries a maximum fine of five years in prison.
Migrants are “overrunning” Europe, with the continent’s borders and way of life under threat, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told MPs.
“They’re not just banging on the door, they’re breaking the door down on top of us.
“Our borders are in danger, our way of life built on respect for the law, Hungary and the whole of Europe is in danger.”
Bank Ki-moon appeal
On the eve of today’s meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to leaders across the 28-nation bloc, urging them to “show leadership and compassion” as the continent grapples with the wave of migrants, many of them refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
He said he was “extremely concerned” about the deteriorating situation, with European borders being closed, the lack of proper facilities to receive newcomers and the increased use of detention against them.
And Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for responsibility to be shared, saying “otherwise there is no point in talking about a united Europe”.
First published at 8:33am
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In years to come they’ll be the individuals you’ll be reading about with dozens of convictions but still on the streets.
It’s a imported problem, eastern Europe
@herp: We have no homegrown joyriders and car thieves?
@herp: evidence of that claim?
@herp:
Really?
Down to your local station and make a detailed statement in evidence so.
@herp: obviously that could not be an Irish.. and I suppose the gangs in Drogheda are all from Europe as well ?
@herp: course it is!
Sure where else?
No Irish Criminals rob cars, nor any other nationality.
Now which “Eastern Europeans” would you mean?
What a dopey illformed comment!
Wonder what rag tabloid you get your info from?
Broke into my folks’ house in Clontarf 2 weeks ago, nicked the keys and the car. Scrotes!
@Yzo Sirrius: Clontarf along with Malahide and Portmarnock are no-go areas, gangs roaming the streets robbing and beating up people
@Yzo Sirrius: yeah. Most of these were actually done in clontarf raheny Sutton and baldoyle.
@Seaniecp: Yeah, the garda said there was 7 cars stolen in the Clontarf area in the previous 2 weeks.
@Niall O’Neill: “no-go areas”…chill out, man!
@Niall O’Neill: like every other area in the country. Place is absolutely lawless
@Yzo Sirrius: Well one is no good without the other
Almost certainly all on benefits, as funded by us mugs, the taxpayers. Then will be sent to prison, again funded by us. Useless leeches.
Sorry to hear about cars been stolen but why leave keys so close to letterbox were they can be “Phished” so easily
@postmanbill: probably a false sense of being safe and secure behind you hall door Alas sadly NO .
@postmanbill: some people leave them in easy reach as an alternative to these people breaking into their house and terrorising their families for the keys to a piece of rolling metal on their driveway.
@postmanbill: I’d rather then took them this way rather then actually entering the house to get them. Lesser of 2 evils.
@Amy Callan: Why not leave the keys in the car if you are that way of thinking. Just give up is not an option.
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