Migrant crisis: EU ministers meet amid rising tension

More than 100,000 migrants have reached Europe so far this year

EU ministers meet in Brussels later amid warnings the migrant crisis could threaten the bloc’s survival.

Austria and Balkan nations have agreed measures to restrict numbers, drawing criticism from Greece, where thousands have been left stranded after Macedonia blocked entry to Afghans.

Meanwhile Hungary has announced a referendum on whether to accept mandatory quotas of migrants.

More than 100,000 migrants have reached Europe so far this year.

In Brussels, EU interior ministers will hear plans drawn up by Austria and eight Balkan countries that include fingerprinting all entrants and turning back anyone without a passport or holding fake documents.

The countries have also pledged to accept only those they deem to be in need of protection, which has already been interpreted by some governments as meaning only Syrians and Iraqis.

Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner described the measures as a “chain reaction of reason” and warned that the crisis could threaten the EU’s survival if it was not brought under control.

But the plans drew sharp criticism from Greece, which threatened to block all decisions at an upcoming EU migration summit if member states did not agree to take in quotas of migrants.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his country was turning into a “permanent warehouse of souls” and should not be left to deal with the crisis alone.

“From now on, Greece will not agree to deals if we do not secure the mandatory sharing of the burden and responsibility proportionally among member states,” Mr Tsipras said.

The air is thick with recrimination as ministers meet to try to save a common migration policy that is threatening to collapse in disarray. The situation is bad, said one senior diplomat, and getting worse.

So another critical phase is approaching. And the European Council President Donald Tusk has warned that failure to make progress towards resolving the migration crisis could make it much more likely that the UK will vote to leave the EU.

BBC