Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/578494
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2015 5 News A ONE NIGHT STAY AT HILTON WITH DINNER AT BLUE ELEPHANT We are nearly at 100,000 LIKES! Like our page and create an online account with www.maltatoday.com.mt to be in a chance to win. Executive lounge facilities include: î3ULYDWHFKHFNLQ FKHFNRXW î%UHDNIDVWLQWKHORXQJH î$IWHUQRRQ7HDZLWKFDNHVDQGSDVWULHV î3UHGLQQHUGULQNVLQFOXGLQJFDQDS«VDQGDOFRKROLF drinks î7HDFRIIHHDQGQRQDOFRKROLFGULQNV available throughout the day 7+(5220 $FFRPPRGDWLRQLQRQHRIRXU&RQWHPSRUDU\([HFXWLYH5RRP including breakfast and Executive Lounge facilities EU ministers vote on refugee relocation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Address- ing a press briefing right after the meeting, Jean Asselborn said the ministers had succeeded in reach- ing an agreement on the Europe- an Commission's plan, drafted to address the emergency situation the member states faced. "We must also come to the aid of refugees," Luxembourg's for- eign minister said, adding that the question of a more permanent mechanism will come up again in the future. "It must be part of a far-reaching plan." Asselborn said yesterday's provi- sional mechanism enjoyed "a very big majority which goes beyond what is required by the treaties". But the EU's failure to agree on the relocation by consensus means that the EU will once again face criticism of a divided Europe which was not doing enough to help victims of war and oppres- sion. Grilled by journalists, first Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans insisted that the plan will be fol- lowed through despite there not being consensus. "It's relatively simple: the Com- mission made a proposal, the member states voted and the outcome of that vote will be re- spected. Nobody challenged that decision," he said. He added that the Commission was under obligation to enforce what is agreed and that the Com- mission will ensure that imple- mentation remains an integral part of its activities. Interjecting, Asselborn said that "nobody has the right not to agree if it is taken by qualified major- ity". Timmermans added that while the media's attention was on the meeting's outcome, the after- noon's decision was also about "rebuilding trust between mem- ber states". Asselborn said some member states didn't want to join in the relocation plan, because of "their other legitimate points of view". He added that he had no doubt that they would still implement the provisions fully, in respect with community law. "We are in an emergency situa- tion and facing accusations of not doing enough. We had to take this legal decision. And not doing so (putting it down to a vote) would have seen a more divided Europe and the union's credibility further undermined," he said. "It reminds us that European Union is found- ed on solidarity between member states, but also reminds us that solidarity should be shown to people in need of protection." European Commission for Mi- gration Dimitris Avramopoulos expressed his "personal satis- faction" and "happiness" over the agreement. He said, that the Commission would leave no stone unturned to implement its plan to address the crisis. In a statement, the European Commission said it welcomed the efforts undertaken by all Member States to reach this result, and salutes in particular the tireless work of the Luxembourg Presi- dency of the Council. EU leaders will be meeting to- day in Brussels. Following this decision, the EU is now in a position to relocate a total of 160,000 people in clear need of international protection in the coming two years. The Commission and the EU agen- cies will organise together with the Member States the necessary coordination to implement the mechanism on the ground. "The European Commission has been consistently and con- tinuously working for a coordi- nated European response on the refugees and migration front. Relocation is part of a compre- hensive approach to deal with the ongoing refugee crisis," it said. Interior Ministers are now ex- pected to move forward on the other proposals made by the Commission, including the EU List of Safe Countries of Origin and the further reform of the Dublin system, at the next Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8 October. "At the same time, the root causes of the refugee crisis must be addressed. That is why [today] Heads of State and Government will discuss the immediate prior- ity actions which are necessary to address the instability in our vi- cinity, and the refugee pressures on neighbouring countries." The Commission said it will continue to work in close coop- eration with the European Par- liament, the Council and the 28 EU Member States, as well as with key third countries such as Serbia and Turkey. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary voted against the plan