European opposition could sink Brussels migrant plan
Brussels (AFP) - Brussels may have to water down controversial plans for quotas to spread Mediterranean refugees around Europe amid growing opposition, unexpectedly led by France, officials said Tuesday.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled the plan last week in a bid to make the rest of the 28-nation EU share the burden of frontline states like Italy, Greece and Malta.
At first it was the usual suspects like Britain that opposed the plan, which would see binding quotas for redistributing asylum seekers based on national criteria such as economic size, population, unemployment and the number of refugees already taken.
But France has made a dramatic U-turn since the weekend, meaning that Brussels can no longer count on the support of the EU's second most powerful member after Germany.
President Francois Hollande said Tuesday there was "no question" of migrant quotas in Europe, echoing comments by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Saturday.
Spain quickly followed suit and now 10 EU nations out of 28 say they oppose the quotas. ...
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