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WORLD NEWS Friday 4 February 2022
EU nations debating borders, migration policies

By SYLVIE CORBET and all foreigners who arrive on
LORNE COOK our soil,” he said.
LILLE, France (AP) — Euro- So far, talk has tended to
pean Union interior minis- focus on outsourcing the
ters on Thursday were de- EU’s migrant challenges to
bating ways to beef up the the countries that people
27-nation bloc’s borders, leave or transit to get to
including by erecting walls Europe and on beefing up
or fences, and examine yet borders.
again how to kick-start des- In Lille, the ministers will
perately needed reforms pick over new proposals
to the EU’s malfunctioning to respond to what have
asylum system. been dubbed “hybrid at-
The EU has been mired in tacks” using migrants, after
a deep political crisis since Belarusian President Alex-
well over 1 million people, ander Lukashenko invited
many of them refugees thousands of people, many
fleeing war in Syria, began of them Iraqis, to Belarus
entering in 2015. Greece with the promise of helping
was overwhelmed by mi- them to enter Europe.
grants landing on its islands Lithuania and Poland,
on rafts and dinghies from notably, are working on
Turkey. Other countries European Union ministers for justice and the interior participate in a meeting, Thursday, Feb. 3, border barriers to keep
2022 in Lille, northern France.
were slow or reluctant to Associated Press people out, and have also
help. changed their national asy-
The old asylum system, el Macron on Wednesday quick response in case of to “show support” toward lum rules to make it harder
based on the notion that evening met with the in- crisis. nations where migrants first for people to stay. The EU’s
the country where migrants terior ministers in a push to European Commission Vice arrive whether they are executive branch, the Eu-
first arrive must deal with “move the issue forward.” President Margaritis Schinas Mediterranean or Eastern ropean Commission, has
them, collapsed. New re- Macron acknowledged said Thursday “there can European countries. made a series of proposals
form proposals have failed members states have dif- be no migration policy at “They see sometimes mas- that countries can use in an
to overcome the fun- ferent views depending on the European level without sive arrivals of refugees be- emergency.
damental problem who their geographic situation a significant dimension of cause of the geopolitical In a document laying out
should take responsibility and warned against divi- border management.” instability of the world,” he national positions on the
and what kind of help other sions. “We are now working to ac- stressed. proposals, which has been
countries should provide. He proposed the creation celerate our agreement” “The idea is to understand seen by The Associated
France, which currently of a new body, the Schen- on both external borders difficulties of countries of Press, a strong minority of
holds the EU’s rotating pres- gen Council, that would issue and the asylum sys- first entry” in the EU and countries favor the use of
idency, is trying to reener- gather members of the tem at talks in Lille, northern show “full solidarity” via walls or fences to stop peo-
gize the sweeping reform free-passport area to make France, he added. relocating asylum seekers ple entering, and some ar-
plan by tackling parts of it decisions on migration poli- French Interior Minister in other countries or help- gue that EU money should
at a time. cies, including preventing Gerald Darmanin said he ing them financially. In ex- be used to pay for the
French President Emmanu- difficulties and bringing a wants all member states change, they must “record barriers.q

U.S. gives military helicopters to Croatia, Russia arms Serbs

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Chargé d’Affaires Mark with the U.S. to buy 89
The United States on Thurs- Fleming said as the heli- Bradley fighting vehicles as
day delivered two Black copters arrived on a U.S. part of cooperation with
Hawk military helicopters Air Force transport plane Washington and plans as
to Croatia, which is en- to Zagreb. a member of NATO to form
gaged in a mini arms race “Croatia has earned a an infantry brigade.
with neighboring Russian reputation as a commit- Croatia, which is also a
ally Serbia amid simmer- ted and capable NATO member of the European
ing tensions in the post-war ally, and the introduction Union, last year agreed to
Balkan region. of Black Hawks will further purchase 12 Rafale fighter
The U.S. Embassy in Croa- boost the capacities of the jets from France.
tia’s capital, Zagreb, said Croatian Armed Forces,” Serbia, which was at war
the donated UH-60M multi- Fleming said in the state- with Croatia in the 1990s
purpose helicopters will ment. over its secession from
contribute to Croatia’s Defense Minister Mario the Serb-led Yugoslavia,
growing defense capabili- Banozic thanked the U.S. has lately been arming
ties and military prepared- for the donation. itself mostly with Russian
ness in support of NATO. “It represents evidence of and Chinese warplanes, A view of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters carrying U.S. and
“The Black Hawk provides strong, friendly and allied drones, and anti-aircraft Afghan trainees take off at Kandahar Air Field, in Afghanistan,
Monday, March 19, 2018.
capabilities across a range relations, which are pro- systems. Associated Press
of possible missions, from gressing every year,” he In recent months, Russia
special operations to tacti- said. has handed over to Serbia Serbia has also recently systems, as well as attack
cal troop transport to aero- Croatia last month 30 battle tanks and 30 ar- purchased sophisticated and transport helicopters
medical evacuation,” U.S. reached an agreement mored personnel carriers. Russian Pantsir air defense and Chinese drones.q