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EU special summit on migration prompted by Austrian, German chancellors

Xinhua, October 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

The EU special summit on tackling migration to be held in Brussels on Sunday is an initiative of the Austrian and German governments, the Office of the Federal Chancellor in Vienna said Wednesday.

It said the Austrian and German chancellors, Werner Faymann and Angela Merkel, were proponents of the summit that is to focus on migrant routes through the Western Balkans, that was officially called for by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The talks will centre largely on the so-called "hotspots" on the EU periphery that function as registration points for migrants, as well as for the repatriation of persons who are not deemed to have right to asylum, Kurier newspaper reported.

The chancellery office said these hotspots are to be established in Greece and Italy by the end of November.

"In the cold winter months it becomes specifically about saving people's lives," the office stated, adding that the right to asylum where applicable must be guaranteed.

In addition financial aid must be given for care of asylum seekers in these regions, as well as improved cooperation with Turkey in tackling the crisis.

Along with the Austrian and German representatives, Sunday's summit will also be attended by leaders from Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and non-EU states Macedonia and Serbia. A number of other prominent individuals will also be present, such as European Council President Donald Tusk and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. Endit