EU member states urged to deliver on promises on refugees

The president of the European Commission has called on The European Union (EU) member states to deliver on their promises concerning the relocation and funding to tackle the current refugee crisis gripping the 28-nation bloc.

Jean-Claude Juncker made the remarks in an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday.

Referring to an agreement between EU government leaders last month to share responsibility for a total of 160,000 asylum seekers already in the EU region, Juncker said, “The gap between pledges and what is on the table must be reduced, otherwise we are losing all kind of credibility.”

The EU official criticized the member states for a 2.3-billion euro shortfall in funding pledged to tackle the unprecedented influx of refugees into Europe.

“The council member states told me they would stand to their promises. And we have seen updated pledges from some, but the member states are still moving slowly at a time when they should be running,” Juncker said, referring to the European Council.

Meanwhile, European Council President Donald Tusk told European lawmakers that the refugee crisis has the potential to change the EU.

“These are truly extraordinary times that require extraordinary measures, extraordinary sacrifices and extraordinary solidarity,” Tusk said.

On October 25, EU and Balkan leaders met in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and agreed to a 17-point plan to improve cooperation and step up consultation over the crisis.

Officials in the European countries reportedly remain divided over how to deal with refugees, most of whom are fleeing conflict-hit zones in Africa and the Middle East.

While some European leaders support an open-door refugee policy, others are in favor of controlling the EU's external borders, deporting more people and paying third countries to keep asylum seekers on their soil.

According to the latest figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 704,220 refugees have reached Europe’s shores so far this year while a total of 3,257 people have either died or gone missing in their perilous journey to the continent.

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