EU plans to take 20,000 refugees

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Brussels - The European Commission has unveiled a new blueprint for dealing with the EU's migration crisis, including a controversial plan for national quotas. The EU aims to bring 20,000 refugees to Europe in the next two years, as part of the plan, at a cost of €50m (£36m). The Commission is urging EU states to share the burden of processing asylum claims. Italy and Greece, facing a migrant surge, are struggling to cope.
Under EU law the UK, Ireland and Denmark are exempt from the quota plan. There is pressure for tougher EU action to send economic migrants back home. The EU is considering naval action in the Mediterranean to intercept boats used to traffic migrants from North Africa, with Libya a particular hotspot. But EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said concrete military measures would have to be decided on Monday by EU foreign and defence ministers. Any military strike against human traffickers would require UN Security Council authorisation, the EU says. (FA)

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