(Vatican Radio) Austria's chancellor has convened a meeting of his German, Greek and west Balkans counterparts on strategies to deal with Europe's biggest migration crisis since World War Two, including closing the so-called Balkans route, which was used by hundreds of thousands of refugees.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: European leaders met in Vienna Saturday at Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern's invitation to discuss how to better fortify the European Union's outer borders against illegal migration and trafficking.As the meeting began, EU Council President Donald Tusk told reporters that the summit should focus on how to keep closed the Balkans route that was used last year by hundreds of thousands of people from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other troubled nations. "Since the first days of the migration crisis I had no doubts that the main key to a resolution is restoring effective control of the EU external borders," he said."And obviou...
(Vatican Radio) Austria's chancellor has convened a meeting of his German, Greek and west Balkans counterparts on strategies to deal with Europe's biggest migration crisis since World War Two, including closing the so-called Balkans route, which was used by hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
European leaders met in Vienna Saturday at Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern's invitation to discuss how to better fortify the European Union's outer borders against illegal migration and trafficking.
As the meeting began, EU Council President Donald Tusk told reporters that the summit should focus on how to keep closed the Balkans route that was used last year by hundreds of thousands of people from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other troubled nations. "Since the first days of the migration crisis I had no doubts that the main key to a resolution is restoring effective control of the EU external borders," he said.
"And obviously an essential precondition towards achieving this goal is close cooperation with our partners in the Balkans and Turkey. Today we should discuss how to improve the effectiveness of our actions. We need to confirm politically and in practise that Balkans route is closed for good," the commissioner added.
He and Austrian, German, Greek and west Balkan leaders tried to overcome their differences amid mounting tensions within the EU over whether to accept more asylum seekers and how to resettle them within the EU.
Open door
Germany's Open Door policy has been especially criticized by Eastern European countries. Hungary's anti-migration Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for instance, even proposed that in his words "illegal migrants should be rounded up and placed in refugee camps set up outside the EU."
Orbán spoke ahead of a Hungary's October 2 referendum on whether to accept EU plans to resettle some 160.000 refugees among member states.
Yet the EU's migration commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, called for a more compassionate, humane approach towards refugees. "And I am sure that today following the debates that will follow we shall all come out showing solidarity among us. And of course providing always human despertate people with humanity and signity," he said.
However, "let me tell me one thing: Since we talk about solidarity, solidarity is not à la card," Avramopoulos added.
"Solidarity and responsibility are basic values and principles. Not only moral principles but also legal principles, explicitly stipulated in the treaties of the Union."
At the same time the EU wants to prevent a repeat of the situation last year when more than a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe.
null / Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on April 19 condemned the kidnapping and murder of a catechist in Burkina Faso, West Africa.In a news brief, ACN informed ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that catechist Edouard Yougbare was kidnapped on Thursday night by "terrorists, and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning."According to other local sources, along with Yougbare, who was a member of Saatenga parish in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso, more people were kidnapped and murdered."We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga," lamented Spaniard María Lozano, press and public relations director of ACN International."Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, ano...
Pope Francis addresses the faithful at his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Apr 19, 2024 / 10:07 am (CNA).In the latest move in Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican judiciary, the pope issued a new motu proprio on Friday on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican's court system.The April 19 motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75 and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.Magistrates and judges who wish to resign from office before the retirement age can only do so with the approval of the pope.The pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates unable to fulfill their duties at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees.The motu proprio, wh...
Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow announced on April 14, 2024, the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017. / Credit: The Helena Kmiec FoundationACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.The prelate said that after the preliminary phase began in December 2022, he made the decision to officially open the process for Kmiec after having consulted the Polish Bishops' Conference and receiving the go-ahead from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints."With this edict I call on all those who have any document, letter, or information about the Servant of God, both positive and negative, to send them to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30," the archbish...