D66: Europe’s impasse on refugees is “embarrassing”

D66 Euro Parliamentarian Sophie in t' Veld calls the deadlock in Europe over the redistribution and shelter of 160 thousand refugees "embarrassing". She is calling for another summit on the refugee crisis before the week is over. "It is extremely worrying that even with the need being so high, national governments are endlessly continuing to hesitate over the reception of refugees and do not have the courage to make hard commitments", In t' Veld writes on her website. According to her, Europe is well able to accommodate refugees without any problem if the countries are willing to cooperate. In t' Veld firmly believes that Europe can accommodate refugees but according to her, the politicians are too afraid to do so "after fifteen years of intense anti-EU and anti-immigration voting.", she said to BNR. She feels that they have allowed themselves to be taken hostage. "Instead of taking responsiblity for the greater whole and also fulfilling their moral obligation and living according to international law, they are choosing for short term interests, the polls and populism." "You still have a moral responsibility to accommodate people in need and that has apparently not been taken into account", the D66 Euro Parliamentarian said to BNR. "I hope that people too can be convinced of the fact that we as EU will be better off if we are able to accommodate these people." According to the In 't Veld, the solution is not complicated, but there is a lot to do. She is calling for emergency measures - a distribution system and on the longer term a full-fledged European asylum policy. "In addition to that, the assessment of asylum applications should be equal in all countries. So you prevent asylum seekers shopping around. On Tuesday European ministers did not manage to reach a political agreement on the redistribution and shelter of refugees in Italy, Greece and Hungary. State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice confirmed this after the meeting in Brussels.