Migrants, MSF: rejections between France and Italy

  Rejected by the French police and without adequate assistance in Italy. This is the fate of many migrants at the Ventimiglia border, according to the Doctors Without Borders Report presented today. Among the "rejected" also unaccompanied minors, pregnant women or with children, sick elderly people. Out of 1,000 people (including patients visited by MSF and people contacted by social and health services) 80% said they were rejected at the border. Some reported being held in containers without water and food, and without medical assistance. The migration reforms planned by the EU Commission… will be delayed after representatives of the 27 EU member states failed to reach agreement on a key aspect of the migration and asylum pact.

Info Migrants reported that the Spanish presidency of the EU has suggested a compromise. However, it failed to gain the support of several countries. Several EU member states, such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, have spoken out against the proposal. In addition, a few other countries, Germany, the Netherlands and Slovakia, said they would abstain. These countries said they are concerned about some rules as the standard for granting asylum could be lowered, thus leading to higher numbers of asylum seekers in the countries. Conversely, Italy said it supported Spain's proposal.