Immigrant crisis causes outcry in Europe

In the context of the migration pressures facing many EU Members States in which people fleeing famine, persecution and war in countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and Eastern Europe attempted to reach Europe, and the rise of tensions within a number of EU countries, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker gave an interview to the French news agency AFP in August 2015 in which he said that EU governments had a duty to help the flood of migrants arriving in Europe and not cave in to 'populist' demands to turn them back.

He went on to say that governments had to be firm and take the lead, when asked how the EU can help share the migrant burden without provoking a backlash that only helped populist and xenophobic movements.

Separately, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, called on the 6 August 2015 for an extraordinary European summit on migration to address the 'increasingly untenable' situation at the EU’s borders.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Finding solutions to migratory pressures http://www.europeansources.info/record/finding-solutions-to-migratory-pressures/

ESO: Background information: EU fails to relocate 40,000 migrants http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-fails-to-relocate-40000-migrants/

EUObserver, 06.08.15: Juncker says mandatory distribution of asylum seekers not off table https://euobserver.com/justice/129840

IOM: Press Release, 04.08.15: Deadly Milestone as Mediterranean Migrant Deaths Pass 2,000 http://www.iom.int/news/deadly-milestone-mediterranean-migrant-deaths-pass-2000

ESO: Background information: Italy counts 90,000 sea migrant arrivals so far this year http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-counts-90000-sea-migrant-arrivals-so-far-this-year/

ESO: Background information: Illegal immigrants face eviction without court order under new UK law http://www.europeansources.info/record/illegal-immigrants-face-eviction-without-court-order-under-new-uk-law/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on migration http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-migration/

ESO: Background information: Is the Ugly German Back? Flames of Hate Haunt a Nation http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-the-ugly-german-back-flames-of-hate-haunt-a-nation/

ESO: Background information: Spring 2015 Standard Eurobarometer : Citizens see immigration as top challenge for EU to tackle http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-spring-2015-standard-eurobarometer-citizens-see-immigration-as-top-challenge-for-eu-to-tackle/

The Guardian, 06.08.15: [Comment is Free]: Guy Verhofstadt: Instead of building walls, the UK must do more to help the Calais asylum seekers http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/06/building-walls-calais-asylum-seekers-uk-france

EurActiv, 07.08.15: Verhofstadt calls for extraordinary summit on migration http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/guy-verhofstadt-calls-extraordinary-summit-migration-316822

The Guardian, 09.08.15: Scenes from a tragedy: just another week in Europe's migrant crisis - in pictures http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2015/aug/09/scenes-from-a-tragedy-another-week-europe-migrant-crisis-in-pictures

Deutsche Welle, 10.08.15: Europe needs to look at 'bigger picture' for migration http://dw.com/p/1GCy9

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

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