Europe's Refugee Crisis: Leaders Meet to Discuss Quotas, Border Controls

European nations are desperately seeking to stem the tide of migrants flooding into the continent, with leaders from Germany, Austria, and Hungary clamping down on border crossings. In an emergency meeting in Brussels, EU interior and justice ministers discussed plans for refugee quotas, with leaders announcing a willingness to relocate an additional 120,000 refugees. Germany, which had committed to taking in 800,000 migrants this year, is bracing for a possible influx of 1 million due to the relentless stream of migrants.

Key Takeaways:

• European leaders are considering relocating an additional 120,000 refugees, on top of plans to relocate 40,000 from Italy and Greece.
• Germany is bracing for a possible influx of 1 million migrants this year, with 10,000 arriving daily, and 16,000 pouring into Munich in just two days.
• Germany has implemented temporary border controls for "security reasons urgently necessary," with officials checking identifications of people in cars and making decisions about whether to allow in those with Syrian or Iraqi identifications.
• Austria is introducing reinforced border controls and deploying 2,200 soldiers to help beleaguered police, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Austrian counterpart meeting on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.
• Hungary is tightening its border laws, including three years in prison for climbing the country's newly built razor-wire fence along the border.
• Macedonia has seen a record number of migrants cross into the country over the weekend, with 8,600 people arriving from Greece to Macedonia from Saturday to Sunday.

Statistics:

• 120,000: additional refugees that European leaders are considering relocating.
• 800,000: number of migrants Germany had committed to taking in this year.
• 1 million: possible number of migrants Germany might have to take in this year.
• 10,000/day: number of migrants arriving in Germany daily.
• 16,000: number of migrants that flooded Munich in just two days.
• 40,000: number of refugees that European leaders plan to relocate from Italy and Greece.
• 20,000: number of Syrian refugees the British government has appointed a minister to oversee the resettling of.
• £1 billion (about $1.5 billion): amount of aid the UK is increasing for refugees in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
• £40 million: amount allocated to the United Nations and nongovernmental organization partners working in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
• 34: death toll from the migrant boat capsizing off the Greek island of Farmakonisi, including 10 children.
• 2,800: number of migrants who have died or disappeared trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year.

Sources:

• CNN
• European Commission
• German Interior Ministry
• Austrian Interior Ministry
• Hungarian government
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
• British government
• Save the Children
• BBC News