Eight member countries of the European Union have agreed to a new “solidarity mechanism” proposed by Germany and France to share the resettlement of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean.
About:
The eight countries are Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Portugal. Another six nations backed the plan in principle at talks in Paris.
Italy, which has been at the forefront of the migrant influx in Europe, did not take part in the meeting.
No details of the deal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron, were provided.
Background:
Thousands of migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean to Europe every year, and Libya is a key departure point. Those who make the journey often travel in poorly maintained and overcrowded vessels, and many have died.
But since mid-2017, the number of migrant journeys has declined dramatically largely due to efforts by Italy and other EU countries to encourage Libya to stop migrants from crossing the Mediterranean - a policy condemned by human rights organisations.
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