Juncker appeals to Europe on refugees, as more move on
European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker appealed to European countries on September 9 to share out a wave of refugees crowding in on their frontiers, but at the same time promised tougher border controls to keep unwanted migrants out.
As he spoke, disarray across the continent was driven home when police in Hungary, Austria and Denmark closed major highways as groups of migrants, hundreds strong, marched north. Defying Hungary's new border fence and EU asylum rules, tens of thousands are crossing frontiers to reach Germany and Sweden.
Facing opposition from national leaders who blocked an earlier plan to move asylum-seekers from overburdened Italy, Greece and Hungary, Juncker used his annual State of the Union speech to the European Parliament to raise the stakes and quadruple to 160,000 the number he wants taken in under mandatory quotas.
"The numbers are impressive. For some they are frightening," he said, referring to figures suggesting half a million may have arrived in Europe this year. "But now is not the time to take fright. It is time for bold, determined and concerted action."
His appeal to "historical fairness", reminding east Europeans of their own past welcome as refugees, had a mixed reception.
The Czech and Slovak leaders stood firm against quotas, which they say will attract more migrants and disrupt their homogenous societies. But with Germany and France throwing their weight behind Juncker, Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said she too had got his message.
The European Commission chief said after his speech that he had been encouraged by his recent conversations with national leaders before their interior ministers meet on September 14 to try to find a common position on his proposals.