BRUSSELS—European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday called on EU countries to agree by next week to share 160,000 refugees, warning that Greece, Italy and Hungary can no longer cope alone.
In an impassioned appeal at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Juncker unveiled a list of new proposals to help Europe confront its biggest refugee crisis since World War II.
“The refugee crisis will not simply go away,” Juncker told EU lawmakers, noting that some 500,000 migrants have entered Europe this year, many from conflict-torn Syria and Libya. “It is high time to act.”
“We are fighting against Islamic State, why are we not ready to accept those who are fleeing Islamic State?” he said.
Juncker unveiled a new plan for 22 of the EU’s 28 states to share 120,000 refugees from Greece, Italy and Hungary, on top of a proposal the EU’s executive made in May to share 40,000 refugees from just Greece and Italy. Britain, Ireland and Denmark are not legally bound to take part. Greece, Italy and Hungary of course are not included.
Hungary estimates that more than 160,000 people have crossed its borders alone this year.
