Migrant boat sinks in Aegean; body of infant recovered

Greek ministers have reacted angrily to previous suggestions the country could be isolated from the EU’s free movement principle.

In all, more than 700 people have died or gone missing in the Aegean Sea since the start of 2015. And it has led to suggestions that Europe’s borderless zone could vanish. And European leaders have warned that there are just weeks to “save” Schengen. Lifeguard Lewis added that he’ll never be able to go back to the man he was before.

The toughest are between Sweden and Denmark, where all travellers have to show identity documents. European Union member states “gave a clear signal” that if they…

Simon was part of a team of Aussie lifeguards from the International Surf Lifesaving Association, who volunteered to help the overworked and exhausted Greek rescue workers trying to save the lives of refugees fleeing the war torn Middle East for Europe by boat, CNN.

The evaluation that Greece is failing was based on visits to the islands of Chios and Samos last November.

While the draft report acknowledges that the Greek authorities are under pressure, it “notably finds that there is no effective identification and registration of irregular migrants”, the European Commission said in a statement.

Rights activists have also blasted a proposed three-year delay for family reunifications which they say breaches worldwide conventions.

A member of the Greek Red Cross waits for migrants and refugees to arrive on a beach of the Greek island of Lesbos Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. People resettling in Germany also have to contribute to their living costs, and the Netherlands has taken a reported 700,000 euros from refugees in that country since 2008. Countries are “panicking” over the large number of arrivals, Mouzalas said. But the influx of people is not expected to slow. And the timing is crucial.

It is “inevitable” the unprecedented measures will be required when the current six-month period of temporary border checks imposed by Germany and five other states expires in May, the Dutch government said.

Officials acknowledge that Greece has improved its system of border controls since November.

Shorter-term dispensations for border controls end in May.

Thus far, what the countries have done has been within the legal limits of Schengen regulations. In this regard, at the Western Balkans Route Leaders’ Meeting of 25 October it was agreed that a country may refuse entry to third country nationals who, when presenting themselves at border crossing points, do not confirm a wish to apply for global protection.

Russian Federation is negotiating on the return of more migrants that Norway now regards as unwanted, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said 26 January, according to Reuters. One worldwide organization reports at least 900 people perished there since a year ago. If they choose not to do so or if it emerges that they are not in need of protection, they should be returned swiftly to their countries of origin – or to transit countries.

The German state of Bavaria is threatening Chancellor Angela Merkel’s federal government with a lawsuit if it doesn’t take measures to secure the German border and reduce the influx of asylum-seekers, escalating a long-running dispute over refugee policy. It leaves them with the option of toughening Europe’s welcome and hardening Europe’s borders to migrants and refugees.