France, Germany back migrant quota initiative

Bucharest: France, Germany and seven other EU nations on Thursday gave their support to a proposed initiative that would create a temporary mechanism to accommodate migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, which has become a sore point in the bloc’s migrant policy as countries like Italy feel overburdened and have begun refusing docking permission to rescue vessels. Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy and Malta also showed support for the proposal, Efe news reported.

“For me, it is undignified that every time a boat is rescued, we have this debate about which countries are going to take these people,” German Interior Minister Stephan Mayer told press as he arrived at an informal meeting of EU counterparts in Bucharest. The topic of migration and migrant quotas was set to be at the top of the agenda in the Romanian capital as ministers look for a breakthrough to the growing logjam stemming from some member nations’ refusal to accept the policy, such as Italy. (IANS)

Also Read: International News