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EU agrees more money for agencies helping refugees near wars

 
Published Sept. 24, 2015

BRUSSELS — European Union leaders, faced with a staggering migration crisis and deep divisions over how to tackle it, managed to agree early Thursday to send $1.1 billion to international agencies helping refugees at camps near their home countries.

The leaders also agreed to set up "hotspots" by the end of November where EU experts can quickly register and identify people eligible for refugee protection, said European Council President Donald Tusk, who chaired an emergency EU summit in Brussels.

The move is intended to also quickly filter out economic migrants who are unlikely to qualify for asylum in Europe.

"The measures we have agreed (upon) today will not end the crisis. But they are all necessary steps in the right direction," Tusk said at the conclusion of the more than seven-hour meeting.

He added that European leaders finally appeared to reach a common understanding and consensus at the meeting.

"Tonight we have a common understanding that we cannot continue like we did before," he said, adding that the crisis will only deepen.

Exact details of the decisions taken by the leaders were not immediately available. Proposals they discussed included deploying more personnel to patrol EU borders, and boosting support to Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan to help them cope with the millions fleeing the fighting in Syria.

Around half a million people have fled to Europe this year in search of sanctuary or jobs.