Countries rethink commitments to accept refugees

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Series Details 15.11.15
Publication Date 15/11/2015
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The 13 November 2015 Paris terror attacks threatened the fragile EU asylum and border policies that had been the subject of many meetings of EU leaders during the summer and autumn of 2015.

In the aftermath of the attacks several politicians in Central European countries such as Poland, Slovak Republic and Hungary, plus Latvia, suggested that there would now be further opposition to implementation of the EU refugee relocation scheme that had been adopted on the 22 September 2015.

In addition, the terror attacks were seen as adding to pressures against the Schengen Agreement of allowing free movement for people within the borders of the countries that were part of the agreement.

Greek authorities said on the 14 November 2015 that at least one of the attackers in Paris may have passed through the Greek island of Leros with a group of 69 refugees in early October 2015 (this claim was subsequently said to be retracted).

In a number of European countries populist leaders such as Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders made calls to reimpose national border controls and to put an end to refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Leaders in Poland and Hungary also made calls for restrictions and some conservative politicians in Germany.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said on the 15 November 2015 'We should not mix the different categories of people coming to Europe. The one responsible for the attacks in Paris … he is a criminal and not a refugee and not an asylum seeker'.

President Hollande stressed on the 18 November 2015 that France would fulfil its commitment made in September 2015 to take in 30,000 refugees in the following two years.

Source Link http://www.politico.eu/article/countries-rethink-commitments-to-accept-refugees-paris-attacks/
Related Links
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
ESO: Background information: Letter to President François Hollande of France from European Council President Donald Tusk on the attacks in Paris / Joint statement of the Heads of State or Government and leaders of the European Union and its institutions on the terrorist attacks in Paris http://www.europeansources.info/record/countries-rethink-commitments-to-accept-refugees/
Radio Poland, 15.11.15: Poland's new cabinet to make U-turn on refugees over Paris attacks? http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/228958,Polands-new-cabinet-to-make-Uturn-on-refugees-over-Paris-attacks
BBC News, 15.11.15: Paris attacks: Impact on border and refugee policy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34826438
ESO: Background information: Paris Attacks Come at a Dangerous Moment for Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/paris-attacks-come-at-a-dangerous-moment-for-europe/
Kathimerini, 15.11.15 [Opinion]: Europe's populist right targets migration after Paris attacks http://www.ekathimerini.com/203431/article/ekathimerini/comment/europes-populist-right-targets-migration-after-paris-attacks
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/6091: Transcript of Press Conference - G20 Summit in Antalya [Jean-Claude Juncker – President of the European Commission] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-6091_en.htm
EurActiv, 15.11.15: Paris attacks give EU leaders excuse to get tough on refugees http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/paris-attacks-give-eu-leaders-excuse-get-tough-refugees-319489
The Guardian, 14.11.15: Paris attacks: European leaders link terror threats to immigration http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/14/paris-attacks-european-leaders-link-terror-threats-to-immigration
The Guardian, 15.11.15: [Analysis]: Why Syrian refugee passport found at Paris attack scene must be treated with caution http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/15/why-syrian-refugee-passport-found-at-paris-attack-scene-must-be-treated-with-caution
EurActiv, 14.11.15: Poland won’t relocate migrants after Paris attacks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/poland-wont-relocate-migrants-after-paris-attacks-319483
EUObserver, 15.11.15: Juncker: Don’t mix up terrorists and refugees https://euobserver.com/political/131114
EurActiv, 16.11.15: Paris attacks hit sensitive nerve in Romania http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/paris-attacks-hit-sensitive-nerve-romania-319500
EurActiv, 16.11.15: Serbia steps up migrant checks after Paris attacks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/serbia-steps-migrant-checks-after-paris-attacks-319499
The Local.fr, 16.11.15: Paris attacks intensify EU migrant debate http://www.thelocal.fr/20151116/paris-attacks-intensify-eu-migrant-debate
Lidové noviny, 16.11.15: Exodus to Europe: Today's migrants are tomorrow's terrorists (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE173269-Exodus-to-Europe-Today-s-migrants-are-tomorrow-s-terrorists
Spiegel Online, 15.11.15: Exodus to Europe: Asylum seekers and Europeans have the same enemy (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE173239-Exodus-to-Europe-Asylum-seekers-and-Europeans-have-the-same-enemy
ECFR: Commentary, 16.11.15: Will Europe hold together after Paris? http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_will_europe_hold_together_after_paris_5008
Politico, 16.11.15: ‘Divisions are getting deeper’ http://www.politico.eu/article/refugee-crisis-divisions-deeper-paris-attack-migrants-passport/
EurActiv, 16.11.15: Berlin ostracises CSU politician who linked Paris to refugee crisis http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/berlin-ostracizes-csu-politician-who-linked-paris-refugee-crisis-319523
EurActiv, 17.11.15: 'They'll think we are the enemy': Refugees in Germany fear backlash http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/theyll-think-we-are-enemy-refugees-germany-fear-backlash-319535
EUObserver, 17.11.15: Europe's populists link terrorism with refugees https://euobserver.com/migration/131142
Blog: Open Europe, 16.11.15: What do the Paris attacks mean for the migration crisis? http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/what-do-the-paris-attacks-mean-for-the-migration-crisis/
EurActiv, 17.11.15: 26 US states refuse to take in Syrian refugees following Paris attacks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/26-us-states-refuse-take-syrian-refugees-following-paris-attacks-319557
Chatham House: Expert Comment, 16.11.15: Paris Attacks: Liberals Must Fight the Far Right, or They’ll Win https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/paris-attacks-liberals-must-fight-far-right-or-they-ll-win
EUObserver 19.11.15: France confirms it will receive 30,000 refugees https://euobserver.com/migration/131175
ECFR: Commentary, 18.11.15: Migrations: let’s not fall into ISIS’ trap http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_migrations_lets_not_fall_into_isis_trap_5017
Deutsche Welle, 19.11.15: Eastern Europe is concerned about its own security http://dw.com/p/1H9B8
Politico, 24.11.15: The Le Pens and France’s fear factor http://www.politico.eu/article/the-le-pens-and-frances-fear-factor-paris-attacks-islam/

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