EU leaders meet for summit where refugees will dominate talks

[webfact]

EU leaders meet for summit where refugees will dominate talks



BRUSSELS: -- The European Union’s leaders meet for a summit in Brussels today with migrants top of the agenda.

The divisive issue needs a collective response, but that has proven hard to find until now, and the combined political and economic challenges thrown up by the arrival of so many refugees, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, represents the gravest crisis the EU has had to face in its history until now.

Ironically, one of the most important contributions that could be made will come from non-EU member Turkey.

“Without any doubt Turkey plays a key role in this situation. We will not be able to regulate the flow of refugees if we don’t cooperate with Turkey. That includes increasing our support for Turkey in the way that they handle the refugees and humanitarian aid,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel just ahead of the summit.

Also on the agenda is British Prime Minister David Cameron’s EU membership referendum, to be held before the end of 2017, and his ideas on EU reforms and concessions which fellow members are keen to hear the details of.

While tens of thousands seek entry some already in, notably in Hungary, Greece, and the UK, are chafing at what they see as Brussels’ restrictions, and want out.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-10-16

[shirtless]

Remember Germany does not represent the whole of the EU guys they wanted them and they can have them.

[ronwparker]

They are in a muddle right now

[cookee68]

Angela Merkel you started this shit and now you are trying to ease the burden of responsibility by blaming others, if you could control your borders like the UK, you would never let them in

[Publicus]

Merkel is the managing director of the Europe project throughout and across the continent so people are just going to have to suck it up. People have a right to sqwak and complain yet they need to know who the boss is. For better and for worse Europe is still a Germany-France directed project while Turkey is key because it borders the ME at the southern length of the country. This is true from one end of Europe to the other, ask the Greeks and ask the Brits.

People such as the UKIP will continue to howl at the moon but that is expected and accepted. Maybe the right can invite the clown Trump to stand at the small land border of Turkey and the rest of Europe to holler about building a very high wall. Youze guyz are used to walls over there, from Hadrian's to Khruschev's.

[RickBradford]

Wilders on terrific form again.

They put up a succession of bewildered people -- parliamentarians all, but totally nitwitted -- to debate him, and he KOs every single one with a simple strategy: sticking to the facts.