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EU ministers agree to intensify efforts on refugee reception

Xinhua, November 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

European Union (EU) home affairs ministers on Monday agreed to intensify efforts to increase reception capacities for refugees in light of the approaching winter at a meeting.

During the meeting they were debriefed on the latest information on migratory flows and the situation on the ground, and had a discussion on progress in implementing the EU measures.

They agreed to encourage member states and relevant third countries to increase reception capacities, for which the Council welcomed the European Commission's decision on additional financial support for affected countries and for the UNHCR.

Ministers also decided on further measures to handle the refugee crisis, including speeding up the relocation process, strengthening the EU's external borders, fighting human trafficking and smuggling, as well as return of unauthorized refugees.

The Council Conclusions said that all participating member states will speed up the relocation process, notably by communicating their capacities for first relocations and by nominating as appropriate relocation liaison officers to Italy and Greece, preferably by Nov. 16.

Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Minister for Immigration and Asylum and President of the Council said: "In the situation in which we currently find ourselves it is essential to slow down the influx of people in order that these can be better managed by individual member states. "

"That is why today's Council has concentrated on the implementation and consolidation of decisions which have already been taken," he said. Endit