Migrant crisis: EU to boost controls at external borders

Worried that the migrants’ influx is getting out of hand, the European Union leaders have agreed to beef up controls at the 28-nation bloc’s outer borders to stem the influx.

According to written conclusions released Thursday at the end of a seven-hour meeting in Brussels, the leaders pledge to “tackle the dramatic situation at our external borders and strengthen controls at those borders.”

To do that, they have promised more staff and equipment for the EU’s border and police agencies and the bloc’s asylum office.

The EU leaders however agreed to give an extra 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to the United Nations refugee agency and World Food Program to help them offer food and shelter to people fleeing conflicts.

Read also: Migrant crisis: Opponents kick over new EU quotas

European Council President, Donald Tusk, said early Thursday the pledge was part of a range of actions agreed by the leaders who were meeting to discuss ways of tackling the overwhelming migration crisis.

Tusk, who chaired the meeting, said all 28 leaders “are absolutely sure that without regaining control of our external borders we have no chance to cope (with) this problem effectively.”

Credit: Associated Press

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