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1st LD Writethru: European Commission sets out priority actions to tackle refugee crisis

Xinhua, September 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European commissioners here on Wednesday set out a set of priority actions to be taken within the next six months in coping with the refugee crisis, ahead of an European Union informal summit.

They achieved consensus at the commissioners' meeting here on Wednesday, and the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will present these to European Heads of State and Government later Wednesday at an informal Summit.

The priority actions covered four areas, including operational measures, budgetary support, implementing EU law, and a long-term, EU-wide system of resettlement and relocation, according to a commission press release.

The commissioners called for the normalization of the Schengen area and lifting internal border controls. Noting that the temporary re-introduction of border controls in recent weeks by some member states can be justified in crisis situations under the Schengen Borders Code, they upheld that border controls can never be more than a short-term measure.

They also voiced the will to step up the diplomatic offensive and intensifying cooperation with third countries, saying that the EU will continue means working closely with key international organizations such as the UNHCR, the United Nations Development Program and, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Red Cross to help tackling the refugee crisis at a global level.

The commission also plans to inject billions of euros into its budget to address the massive migrant influx.

The emergency fund for the most affected member states may see an increase of 100 million euros (112 million U.S. dollars) this year. In 2016, the emergency funding for the most affected member states and relevant EU agencies will be increased by 600 million euros.

A total of 200 million euros will be added to the emergency humanitarian aid in 2015 in a bid to provide refugees an immediate help. Meanwhile, the humanitarian aid will be increased by 300 million euros in 2016.

The commission commits to increase support for Syrian refugees and as a result the EU and member states are set to inject at least 1 billion euros to a fund "in response to the Syrian crisis and provide assistance to third countries hosting refugees from Syria."

"The first priority today is and must be addressing the refugee crisis. The decision to relocate 160,000 people from the most affected Member States is a historic first and a genuine, laudable expression of European solidarity. It cannot be the end of the story, however," said Juncker.

"It is time for further, bold, determined and concerted action by the European Union, by its institutions and by all its Member States," he said.

EU member states on Tuesday approved the proposal to relocate 120,000 migrants by a majority vote. The latest agreement made the total relocation quota within the EU amount to 160,000. Endit