EU commission engulfed in migrant ‘quota’ battle

The European Commission's plan in May 2015 to introduce EU-wide binding refugee quotas, as part of its migration agenda, faced opposition from a range of EU Member States.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi accused on the 19 May 2015 the rest of Europe of trying to ignore the Mediterranean migrant crisis, after several states had ruled out quotas for taking in asylum seekers.

German Development Minister Gerd Müller said on the 20 May 2015 that every country in Europe 'must participate in this misery and make a contribution ... Solidarity means implementing a quota solution' the development minister said, adding that the question would decide whether the EU was 'capable of action'.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Background information: Council establishes EU naval operation to disrupt human smugglers in the Mediterranean http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-establishes-eu-naval-operation-to-disrupt-human-smugglers-in-the-mediterranean/

Blog: Open Europe, 20.05.15: EU refugee quota plan is already crumbling http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/eu-refugee-quota-plan-is-already-crumbling/

ESO: Background information: EU readies for refugee quota plan amid opposition from some members http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-readies-for-refugee-quota-plan-amid-opposition-from-some-members/

EurActiv, 19.05.15: EU ministers back Mediterranean naval mission, reject migrant quotas http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-ministers-back-mediterranean-naval-mission-reject-migrant-quotas-314670

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 20.05.15: The dispute over Europe's refugee policy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER163323-The-dispute-over-Europe-s-refugee-policy

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: EU at odds over refugee quotas http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-201505-fluechtlingsquote/

BBC News, 20.05.15: Italy's Renzi says Europe blind to migrants' plight http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32809540

The Local.it, 20.05.15: Italy to recover migrant bodies as EU plan falters http://www.thelocal.it/20150520/italy-to-recover-shipwreck-dead-as-eu-plan-falters

Deutsche Welle, 20.05.15: Germany, Italy push Europe to accept refugee quota http://dw.de/p/1FT2m

El País, 19.05.15: EC migrant quota assigned to Spain unfair, says foreign minister http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/05/19/inenglish/1432026021_084084.html

The Local.it, 19.05.15: Italy starts to show the strains of migrant influx http://www.thelocal.it/20150519/migrant-surge-tests-italys-humanitarian-instincts

EUObserver, 20.05.15: Migration proposals: Juncker's gamble https://euobserver.com/justice/128771

Politico 20.05.15: Saving ‘Juncker’s baby’ http://www.politico.eu/article/junckers-baby/

Politico 19.05.15: France puts Juncker’s migration agenda at risk http://www.politico.eu/article/france-juncker-migration-agenda/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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