EUROPE-MIGRANTS/FUNDING European Union approves 2.4 bln euros funding for migration crisis

Record ID: 144427

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/FUNDING European Union approves 2.4 bln euros funding for migration crisis
  • Date: 10th August 2015
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION EU FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEE9BCBKU8E3NXQME3KA8JJFD9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The European Commission on Monday (August 10) approved 2.4 billion euros ($2.6 billion) of aid over six years for countries including Greece and Italy that have struggled to cope with a surge in numbers of immigrants.
    Italy is to receive the most aid - nearly 560 million euros, while Greece will receive 473 million.
    "Today we've announced the release of 2.4 billion in our funding to help member states to deal with the migratory pressures so the Commission is very much approaching this issue with eyes wide open and we continue to work very closely with the member states to address this challenge as best we can," Commission Spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud told reporters in Brussels.
    Tensions have escalated this year as thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa try to gain asylum in the European Union.
    In Calais, a bottleneck for migrants attempting to enter Britain illegally through the Eurotunnel from France, has seen several migrant deaths this month.
    Some of the newly approved aid will be disbursed to French and British authorities tackling the crisis in Calais.
    "We are now able to disperse the funding for the French national programme. The UK has already received the first disbursement of their funding, and so both of this money goes to amongst other things also dealing with the situation in Calais," Bertaud said.
    The Commission plans to approve an additional 13 programmes later this year, which will then be implemented by EU member states.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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