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DPA
Helsinki
Germany and France on Thursday failed to broker a deal with other EU states on an ad-hoc mechanism to distribute asylum seekers rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, amid efforts to help front-line states such as Italy deal with arrivals.
Nonetheless, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer praised the progress made at informal talks with his EU counterparts in Helsinki.
“I think, given the very divergent positions at the start of the discussion, we have come a significant step forward,” Seehofer said, expressing optimism that a temporary solution could be found by early September. But his Finnish counterpart Maria Ohisalo said the talks were “only the beginning,” with more efforts needed.
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that, from the outset, some ministers refused to take in migrants, others appealed for greater solidarity and many expressed concern about creating an incentive for more to attempt the dangerous sea journey.
Talks are set to continue at a meeting of EU foreign and interior ministers in Paris on Monday, Castaner noted, adding that the goal was to bring around 15 member states on board.
The European Union has long grappled with a common response to migration inflows from northern Africa via the Mediterranean, against the backdrop of more fundamental - but highly controversial - reforms needed to the bloc’s asylum policy.
The ad-hoc deal on the table would serve as a “bridge” until new rules are in force, EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos noted, adding that a permanent migrant redistribution mechanism was needed.
In the past, Italy has taken in most sea arrivals, but populist government began putting its foot down last year, closing its ports to rescue vessels.
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19/07/2019
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