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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Matthew Weaver

Refugee crisis: Juncker unveils EU quota plan – as it happened

Jean-Claude Juncker says the EU should accept 160,000 refugees.

This live blog has now closed. But you can read the latest report of the Balkan countries’ reaction to the refugee crisis from the Guardian’s migration correspondent, Patrick Kingsley, below.

These are the growing pains of a continent that once tried to ignore the biggest wave of mass-migration since the second world war, but which is increasingly having to work out ways of managing it. Even Hungary, two borders to the north, is having to change its approach on the ground – albeit to a far lesser extent. In terms of rhetoric, Hungary remains firmly opposed to refugees, although about 160,000 have crossed its borders so far this year. Notoriously, Hungary has even built a barbed-wire fence to stop them.

But on the ground, the Hungarians have quietly had to adopt a more pragmatic response. After refugees entered the country anyway, using sleeping bags and clothes to blunt the fence’s barbs, the government began to allow thousands to cross through one specific point in the fence, instead of crossing in dribs and drabs along its entire length.

Here’s a summary of the latest developments:

The leaders of European countries most affected by the crisis, including Hungary’s anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban, have been summoned to the United Nations for a with the secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

The leaders of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia have been asked to discuss the arrival of refugees and migrants in Europe.

In a statement from his office Ban “encouraged the European Union countries to live up to their obligations and the standards they have set.”

In remarks that appeared to be aimed at Orban, he said “underlined the need for compassion and global solidarity, and applauded the inspiring examples that have been displayed all over Europe by private citizens and civil society.”

The statement adds: The Secretary-General appealed to these leaders to be the voice of those in need of protection and to quickly find a joint approach to address their basic needs. As European leaders, their stand against increasing xenophobia, discrimination, and violence against migrants and refugees in Europe is particularly important. He hoped that any manifestation of these phenomena would be addressed firmly and without delay.”

Juncker’s speech was an attempt at “radically overhauling dysfunctional and fragmented immigration policies in Europe,” according to our Europe editor Ian Traynor.

In a major address to the European parliament in Strasbourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, called for root-and-branch reform of disparate immigration policies in the EU. He complained that national governments were failing to observe agreements on asylum procedures, and warned that several could be sanctioned.

Read the rest of Ian’s piece here.

Britain’s response to the refugee crisis gets the treatment from Taiwanese Animators.

It features a Winston Churchill getting English lessons on the distinction between migrants and refugees, and asylum seekers making their way through the Channel Tunnel on an EU elephant.

Britain’s response to migration as seen by Taiwanese animators.

Updated

BBC producer Tony Brown has new footage of hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers walking into Serbia from Macedonia.

New figures from the UNHCR puts Juncker’s quota plan into humbling context.

The 160,000 refugees the EU is proposing to resettle represent less than 4% of the more than 4 million refugees in countries neighbouring Syria.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Photograph: STR/EPA

Turkey has attacked the “ridiculously” meagre response of Europe to the refugee crisis and criticised Hungary for using religion as rationale for its anti immigration policies.

In an article for the Guardian, Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, compared to Turkey, the west’s response to the crisis made “the concept of burden-sharing has become a meaningless catchphrase.”

Davutoglu delivered a thinly disguised attack on Hungary’s hardline prime minister, Viktor Orban, who last week warned that Europe’s Christian identity was under threat from the crisis, and has vowed to push ahead with the construction of border fence.

He said: “In the ongoing cacophony, those voices that advocate for more walls and barbed wire are gaining strength. Some European leaders, as if to suggest that nothing can be learned from history, are even invoking Christianity as a rallying cry to keep refuge-seekers out.”

He added: “The Turkish people have made huge sacrifices in hosting more than 2 million Syrians and Iraqis. By so doing, we have damped the mass influx to the EU and effectively become a buffer between chaos and Europe. Meanwhile, EU member states account for ridiculously low shares in the global resettlement rates.

“It is high time for Europe to look in the mirror, be honest about what it sees in the reflection, to stop procrastinating and start assuming more than its fair share of the burden. Radical politicians must not be allowed to pull the wool over the eyes of the European people.

“And if morality is not a good enough reason to tackle this issue in a humane way, it should be borne in mind that the highest wall or the sharpest barbed wire will not turn this tide around. We need meaningful, humane and sustainable solutions, and we need them now.”

Updated

Migrants jump over a road protection fence as they leave a collection point in the village of Roszke, Hungary.
Migrants jump over a road protection fence as they leave a collection point in the village of Roszke, Hungary. Photograph: Marko Djurica/Reuters

Up to 500 people broke through police lines in Hungary near the main crossing point from Serbia, AFP reporters at the scene said.

The break-out took place near the flashpoint town of Roszke where migrants have to wait at a collection point before being taken to a nearby centre for registration.

Shouting “No camp!” they scattered in all directions, some heading for a nearby motorway leading to Budapest, which police then temporarily closed down.

The M5 motorway was later re-opened after a majority of the migrants agreed to be taken to a nearby refugee camp.

Only small groups of people continued to walk down the motorway, according to local media.

It was the latest in a series of tense confrontations between police and desperate migrants and refugees as the Hungarian authorities struggle to cope with thousands of new arrivals every day.

UK confirms opt out from refugee quotas

The UK, Denmark and Ireland are allowed to opt out of the quota scheme. Downing Street has made it clear it has no plans to opt in following Juncker’s speech.

The Guardian’s Westminister reporter Frances Perraudin has just returned from a briefing by the prime minister’s spokeswoman.

Responding to Juncker’s speech, the spokeswoman said:

On the detail around migration there’s a number of proposals I think he’s outlined. I understand the European Commission is due to put those forward more formally this afternoon. We will need to look at those and analyse them...

The point I’d make is that the UK is already playing its part and – in terms of a financial contribution to tackling the refugee crisis from Syria – we are the leading donor nation on that... In terms of any relocation, we have already been clear on our position on that, which is that we are not bound by it and we are going to focus our efforts on resettlement.

We’ve already announced that we’re going to take 20,000 more refugees in the coming years in addition to the thousands that we were already preparing to accept.

Updated

Here’s a summary of the key points and passages from Juncker’s speech as it was delivered.

An admission of failure

I don’t want to get despondent, but Europe is not in good shape ... We have collectively committed to resettling over 22,000 people from outside of Europe over the next year, showing solidarity with our neighbours. Of course, this remains too modest in comparison to the Herculean efforts undertaken by Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, who are hosting over 4 million Syrian refugees.

Binding quotas to relocate 160,00 refugees

We are proposing a second emergency mechanism to relocate a further 120,000 from Italy, Greece and Hungary [in addition to 40,000 agreed in May]. This has to be done in a compulsory way.

Call to allow asylum seekers to work

I am strongly in favour of allowing asylum seekers to work and earn their own money whilst their applications are being processed. Labour, work, being in a job is a matter of dignity ... so we should do everything to change our national legislation in order to allow refugees, migrants, to work since day one of their arrival in Europe.

Call to scrap the Dublin system

It is time we prepare a more fundamental change in the way we deal with asylum applications – and notably the Dublin system that requires that asylum applications be dealt with by the first country of entry.

Fast tracking asylum with safe countries system

The Commission is proposing a common EU list of safe countries of origin. This list will enable Member States to fast track asylum procedures for nationals of countries that are presumed safe to live in. This presumption of safety must in our view certainly apply to all countries which the European Council unanimously decided meet the basic Copenhagen criteria for EU membership – notably as regards democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. It should also apply to the other potential candidate countries on the Western Balkans, in view of their progress made towards candidate status.

Snipes at Hungary

We Europeans should remember well that Europe is a continent where nearly everyone has at one time been a refugee ... Hungarian revolutionaries fleeing to Austria after their uprising against communist rule was oppressed by Soviet tanks in 1956.

We can build walls, we can build fences. But imagine for a second it were you, your child in your arms, the world you knew torn apart around you. There is no price you would not pay, there is no wall you would not climb, no sea you would not sail, no border you would not cross if it is war or the barbarism of the so-called Islamic State that you are fleeing.

Opening legal channels for new arrivals

Let us not forget, we are an ageing continent in demographic decline. We will be needing talent. Over time, migration must change from a problem to be tackled to a well-managed resource. To this end,the Commission will come forward with a well-designed legal migration package in early 2016.

New European border force

We need to strengthen Frontex significantly and develop it into a fully operational European border and coast guard system. It is certainly feasible. But it will cost money. The Commission believes this is money well invested. This is why we will propose ambitious steps towards a European Border and Coast Guard before the end of the year.

Appeal against bigotry

Europe has made make the mistake in the past of distinguishing between Jews, Christians, Muslims. There is no religion, no belief, no philosophy when it comes to refugees.

The first 200 refugees arrived in France from Munich today, as France prepares to bus 1,000 Syrians, Iraqis and Eritreans from Germany this week, writes our Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis.

But there has been controversy after some French town-halls said they would take only Christian refugees.

This week, the mayor of Roanne, who belongs to Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-wing party Les Républicains, said he would only accept Christian Syrians so he could “be absolutely certan that they aren’t terrorists in disguise.” Then the mayor of Belfort, from the same party, responded to the government’s appeal for towns to house refugees saying his town would take only Christian Iraqi or Christian Syrian families “because they are the most persecuted.”

Last night, the town council of Charvieu-Chavagneux near Lyon said it would only take a Christian family because Christians “don’t put people’s security in danger.”

The government reacted furiously. The Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls said: “We don’t select on the basis of religion. The right to asylum is a universal right.” The interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said it would be “macabre” to make a distinction by religion. The French Bishops’ Conference said distinguishing a person’s faith would be “totally contrary to the spirit of religions”.

In his speech today EU president Jean-Claude Juncker urged Europe not to make religious distinctions about refugees. He said: “Europe has made make the mistake in the past of distinguishing between Jews, Christians, Muslims. There is no religion, no belief, no philosophy when it comes to refugees.”

Juncker beefed up his speech

In the actual speech that Juncker delivered he went further than the text released by the Commission.

He stuck to the text by stating “We are proposing a second emergency mechanism to relocate a further 120,000 from Italy, Greece and Hungary.”

But then he inserted the words “This has to be done in a compulsory way.”

Listening again to an audio of Juncker’s words compared to the text reveals that he also beefed up the speech in other sections. He said Europe’s response to the crisis had “too modest” rather than “very modest”.

He also inserted this passage: “I really hope that this time everyone will be on board. No poems, no rhetoric, action is what is needed.”

And after the passage about saying he favoured allowing asylum seekers to work, Juncker added this passage: “Labour, work, being in a job is a matter of dignity ... so we should do everything to change our national legislation in order to allow refugees, migrants, to work since day one of their arrival in Europe.” This is flatly opposed by the British government.

Updated

The UNHCR has put together a video of Syrian refugees expressing frustration about their treatment in Hungary. The agency is calling on Hungary to improve its treatment of asylum seekers.

The video show people repeatedly breaking through police lines at the boarder with Serbia.

Full text of Juncker's speech

Juncker’s office has published the full text of his speech (minus the quip about finger painting).

It has also published his letter of intent which confirms plans to revise the blue card directive or work permit arrangements.

In his speech Juncker said: “I am strongly in favour of allowing asylum seekers to work and earn their own money whilst their applications are being processed.”

Here’s confirmation of the quotas for individual member states.

The European Commission has presented a seven-point plan to respond to refugee crisis.

Here’s the full text:

  1. An emergency relocation proposal for 120,000 refugees from Greece, Hungary and Italy: following the sharp increase in illegal border crossings in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean, but also on the Western Balkans route, over the last few months, urgent action is needed. The Commission proposes to relocate 120,000 people in clear need of international protection from Italy (15,600),Greece (50,400) and Hungary (54,000). The relocation would be done according to a mandatory distribution key using objective and quantifiable criteria (40% of the size of the population, 40% of the GDP, 10% of the average number of past asylum applications, 10% of the unemployment rate). It applies to nationalities of applicants with an EU-wide average recognition rate of 75% or higher[1]. This comes in addition to the Commission’s proposal from May to relocate 40.000 people in clear need of international protection from Italy and Greece to other EU Member States, thus bringing the total proposed number up to 160,000.
  2. A Permanent Relocation Mechanism for all Member States: As announced in the European Agenda on Migration, the Commission is proposing a structured solidarity mechanism which can be triggered any time by the Commission to help any EU-Member State experiencing a crisis situation and extreme pressure on its asylum system as a result of a large and disproportionate inflow of third country nationals. Such future emergency situations would be defined by the Commission based on the number of asylum applications in the last 6 months, per capita as well as the number of irregular border crossings in the last 6 months. The same objective and verifiable distribution criteria will apply as in the emergency relocation proposals. The permanent mechanism will also take into account asylum seekers’ needs, family situation and skills.A temporary solidarity clause: If - for justified and objective reasons such as a natural disaster – a Member State cannot temporarily participate totally or in part in a relocation decision, it will have to make a financial contribution to the EU budget of an amount of 0.002% of its GDP. The European Commission will analyse the reasons notified by the country and take a decision on whether or not they justify the non-participation of a country in the scheme for a maximum of up to 12 months. In case of partial participation in the relocation, the amount will be reduced in proportion.
  3. A common European list of Safe Countries of Origin: following up on the European Agenda on Migration and the European Council Conclusions of 25-26 June, the European Commission is proposing a Regulation to establish an EU common list of safe countries of origin. Such a European list will allow for swifter processing of asylum applications from candidates originating from countries considered to be safe across the EU, and for faster returns if the individual assessments of the applications confirm no right of asylum. Following discussions with and current practices by Member States, the Commission proposes to add Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey to the EU list of safe countries of origin. These countries fulfil the common criteria of the Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32 for a country to be considered safe; they are members to major international human rights Treaties; and the majority have been designated as a candidate country by the European Council, fulfilling the so-called “Copenhagen criteria“ (guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities). Other countries can be added in future following a thorough assessment by the European Commission.
  4. Making return policy more effective: to improve the return policies of Member States, the Commission has issued a common Return Handbook and an EU Action Plan on Return. The Commission has presented an EU Action Plan on Return which defines the immediate and mid-term measures to be taken by Member States to enhance voluntary return, to strengthen the implementation of the Return Directive, to improve information sharing, to strengthen the role and mandate of Frontex in return operations, and to create an integrated system of return management. In parallel, the Commission has adopted a Return Handbook which offers national competent authorities practical instructions when carrying out returns of those refugees that do not have the right to stay in the European Union. It will serve as the main training tool in standards and procedures for experts applying the Return Directive 2008/115. In parallel,
  5. Communication on Public Procurement rules for Refugee Support Measures: Member States have to satisfy adequately and speedily the most immediate needs of asylum seekers for housing, supplies and services. Today’s Communication provides guidance for national, regional and local authorities to ensure compliance with EU procurement rules when financing these services can be assured in a simple, speedy and non-bureaucratic manner.
  6. Addressing the external dimension of the refugee crisis: As long as political instability and conflicts in the countries of origin (for example in Libya and Syria) continue, the EU will be faced with increased numbers of people seeking refuge. Contributing to political solutions in these countries remains a priority for the EU, both through financial support to neighbouring countries as well as through some 17 readmission agreements and 7 mobility partnership agreements. So far, €3.8 billion have been mobilised to help Syria and Iraq’s neighbouring countries. The EU will also deepen the existing high-level dialogues on migration with key partners – such as the Rabat and Khartoum processes with African countries and the Budapest process with East and Central Asia, as well as the upcoming Summits and La Valetta.
  7. A Trust Fund for Africa: Today, the European Commission has allocated €1.8 billion from the EU budget to set up an “Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration in Africa”(insert link). The aim is to improve stability and address root causes of irregular migration flows in the regions of the Sahel, Lake Chad, the Horn of Africa, and the North of Africa. It will support these regions to develop better socio-economic opportunities and migration management policies. The European Commission is expecting Member States to pitch in too and match our ambition. Spain, for example, has already confirmed its participation.

There have been more chaotic scenes at Hungary’s border with Serbia despite the UN’s call for an improvement in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

Hungarian police officers stop a group of migrants near a makeshift camp for asylum seekers in Roszke.
Hungarian police officers stop a group of migrants near a makeshift camp for asylum seekers in Roszke. Photograph: Darko Vojinovic/AP

During a lull in tensions on Tuesday a children was photographed offering a policeman a biscuit.

European Parliament member Janice Atkinson of the UK holds a press conference at the European Parliament.
European Parliament member Janice Atkinson of the UK holds a press conference at the European Parliament. Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

A British MEP has made a hardline anti-immigration speech on the same platform as France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Speaking alongside Le Pen at today’s Europe of Nations and Freedom press conference former Ukip member and now independent MEP, Janice Atkinson, said: “I am honoured to sit alongside Marine Le Pen of France and my partners in the Europe of Nations and Freedom group.”

She added: “Nobody voted for illegal immigration. Plenty of people voted to put us here to oppose it. The hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants overwhelming our borders and our capacities to cope are exactly that - illegal.”

“Let’s be clear about another thing: despite what the human rights industry and the massed ranks of taxpayer-funded charities and lobby-groups repeat, this is not a refugee crisis but a massive crisis of illegal immigration which must be resisted for what it is.”

She insisted even those who had fled Syria were illegal immigrants.

A man who leaves Syria may be a refugee at the start of the journey. When he is illegally living in Calais and illegally attempting to enter Britain, he is an economic migrant and an illegal immigrant,” Akinson said.

She went on to attack Europe’s response. “The Europe Commission is complicit in the crisis. The national governments of Europe are compIicit in the crisis. Only we who answer to voters, not to Brussels, can offer the strength of opposition this crisis requires.”

To accompany Juncker’s speech the EU Commission has published the key points of the EU’s response to the migration crisis, plus more details about future plans.

Here’s the full text:

Migration and refugee movements form one of the biggest challenges the EU is facing. The number of asylum applicants registered across the EU has increased by 44% from 435,000 in 2013 to 626,000 in 2014. There has been a major increase of irregular border crossings, in the first 5 months of 2015 over 153,000 migrants were detected at Europe’s external borders. This represents a 149% increase when compared to the same period in 2014.

We have taken action to provide a European response. In May, the Commission presented the European Agenda on Migration and implemented its first measures. We have taken swift measures to alleviate the crisis. We clamped down on smugglers networks. With Member States’ assets we have tripled European presence in the Mediterranean enabling the rescue of over 120,000 people.

The Commission acted swiftly and repeatedly stressed that a European approach was essential. Every day, refugees are arriving at our shores and borders. The need for ambitious EU action based on shared solidarity and responsibility is clear.

In May 2015, we proposed to assist Italy and Greece by relocating 40,000 people who have arrived on their shores to other Member States for processing asylum applications. Member States have endorsed our proposals to resettle people from refugee camps outside the EU, and we will soon resettle more than 22,000 refugees.

We must go further. To deal with the emergency nature of the current refugee crisis, on 9 September 2015 we proposed to relocate an additional 120,000 refugees from Italy, Greece and Hungary. This is part of a broader package of measures including a list of safe countries of origin, a permanent relocation mechanism to be automatically triggered in future emergency situations, and diplomatic action to stabilise the countries refugees are fleeing.

We have doubled the emergency funding to assist the most affected Member States from €25 million to €50 million a year. In our new ‘Hotspots’ approach, EU agencies work on the ground with national authorities to swiftly identify, register and fingerprint incoming refugees. This also allows us to swiftly return all those who do not require international protection.

The Commission proposed an Action Plan to step up investigation and prosecution of criminal networks of smugglers, and a Common Security and Defence Policy operation to gather intelligence and in a second phase to intercept and destroy smugglers’ vessels.

Partnerships with countries of origin and transit are essential to contribute to development opportunities and assistance. To this end, the EU will be deploying migration liaison officers in EU Delegations, and will offer €96.8 billion in EU external cooperation assistance for 2014-2020.

It was not a soaring speech, but in substance it was rather radical, writes Ian Traynor in his first take on Juncker’s speech.

Juncker was actually demanding a new fully-fledged European asylum and immigration regime. In addition to the well-flagged relocation system 160,000 refugees, he also set out new permanent emergency instruments for compulsory sharing. And there is a renewed border control force plus new legal migration channels.

Ukip apart, the initial response to Juncker’s speech has been largely positive.

Eurozone analysis Yannis Koutsomitis wonders how Juncker will convince Visegrad doubters [the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia].

Andrew Harper of the UNHCR picks out his favourite passage.

Will Straw, the executive director of Britain’s In Campaign, was worried about talk of “more Europe”.

Whether you are a refugee or supporting refugees share your experiences, photos or videos with us by clicking on the GuardianWitness ‘contribute’ buttons on the top of this blog, filling in our form, or via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44 (0) 7867 825056

Meanwhile on Hungary’s border with Serbia, there’s a stand off between police and those trying to cross the border, according to video from the BBC’s Anna Holligan.

That first heckle, which Juncker dismissed as “worthless rubbish” was from Ukip leader Nigel Farage, according to the Guardian’s Europe editor Ian Traynor.

Ukip was alarmed by Juncker’s pro-migration speech. Patrick O’Flynn, one of its MEP, picked out Juncker’s suggestion of scraping the system of applying for asylum in the country of entry.

Juncker humour...

In the segment of his speech about European nations blaming each other for the crisis, Juncker made this bizarre joke.

“There has been a lot of finger pointing. Not enough finger painting, but too much finger pointing in the past weeks,” he said.

Laurence Norman explains the joke. He says finger painting is a reference to the process of registering asylum claims when finger prints are taken.

Updated

Juncker turns to foreign policy. He says the EU wants to help stabilise north Africa and appeals for funding to help. “Turning back boats is not Europe,” he says. He applauds the welcome given to refugees in Munich.

Juncker starts speaking in French again to cover other aspects of his speech starting with the fraught subject of Greece’s debt crisis.

Juncker insists that the Schengen system of free movement will not be dismantled. But Europe’s continental borders will need to strengthened. “We need to strengthen Frontex [the EU’s border agency] but this will cost money,” he adds.

But Juncker also talks of “opening legal channels for migration”. He says: “We can manage migration better ... lets not forget we are an ageing continent.” Over time migration will change from a problem to well-managed resource, he adds.

The commission tweets one of Juncker’s opening soundbites.

Updated

Juncker warns that winter is approach. “Do we really want people sleeping in the railway station in Budapest, or tents in Kos?” he asks. A list of safe countries in the Europe will help fast track the asylum system, Juncker says.

The commission is also proposing a permanent relocation mechanism to help tackle future refugee emergencies, he says.

“I’m strongly in favour of allowing asylum seekers to work, while their applications are being processed. Work is a matter of dignity,” Juncker says.

Juncker calls for "compulsory" quotas

Common asylum standards are important, but not enough to cope with the current crisis, Juncker admits. He acknowledges that “much has happened” since the EU agreed to resettle 40,000 asylum seekers in May.

Juncker applauds the efforts of countries neighbouring Syria (Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan) to take in millions of refugees.

Where Europe has clearly failed is in offering common solidarity to refugees, Juncker says, Today we are proposing as second emergency measure. “This has to be done in a compulsory way,” he says. Juncker confirms that the plan sets out the relocation of 160,000 people.

Updated

Europe today represents a place of refuge and hope. This is something to be proud of not something to fear, Juncker says. In spite of many differences, Europe is the most stable and wealthy place in the world. This is the place of peace and stability, he adds.

We have the means of helping those fleeing terror, Juncker insists. The number of refugee represents only 0.11% of the European population, he points out. As long as there is war in Syria and terror in Libya, there will be refugee problem, Juncker says.

We are fighting Islamic State why can’t we accept those fleeing Islamic State? Juncker asks. There has been a lot of finger pointing by members states and accusations that Brussels is not doing its job, Juncker says. But he adds there is no point in getting angry and calls for the adoption of a common asylum system.

We should remember that Europe is a continent where at one point almost everyone has been a refugee, Juncker says. He pointedly mentions Hungarian revolutionaries fleeing to Austria after the 1956 uprising against Soviet rule. “Have we forgotten that there are more MacDonalds living in the United States than in Scotland?” Juncker asks.

Have we forgot that after the second world war there were 60 million refugees in Europe? he continues. We should never forget that giving refuge is so important. The right to asylum is one of the most important European values.

Updated

Juncker says the response to the migration crisis should be the first priority of the EU. The numbers are “impressive” he says, for some they are “frightening”. But now is not the time to take fright, it is a time for bold concerted action, he says. It is a matter for human dignity and historic sense, Juncker says speaking in English.

Juncker admits that the EU is “not in a good place”. He adds: “There is a lack of Europe in the Europe, and a lack of union, and that has to change.”

Juncker then dismisses a heckler as “worthless”.

So far only rambling throat-clearing from Juncker.

Juncker has started his state of the EU speech.

According to our Europe editor Ian Traynor, Juncker will identify migration as one of 10 priorities.

Once Jean Claude Juncker starts speaking you will be able to follow his speech here:

Live feed of Juncker’s state of the European Union speech

If that doesn’t work Politico Brussels has seven other ways of watching the Junker’s State of the European Union speech.

The first three should allow you to watch a live interpretation in your native language.

1) via the European Parliament website; 2) via the Commission’s Europe by Satellite service; 3) a “special streaming page” from the Parliament; 4) Euronews Live; 5) the dedicated website for the speech and debate; 6) AUDIO only; 7) EbS optimized for mobile

Updated

Summary

Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the refugee crisis as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is due to give details of a quota plan to resettle refugees across Britain.

He is expected to announce quotas to resettle 120,000 refugees in addition to plans to relocate 40,000 refugees as set out by the commission in May.

Our data team sets out the expected detail and criteria.

Relocation of refugees

Here’s a roundup of the latest flash points and responses to the crisis:

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