19 asylum-seekers become first to be flown across Europe in relocation plan

A group of Eritrean asylum seekers were flown from Italy to Sweden on Friday, the first step in a relocation plan aimed at easing the burden on border states amid the continent’s biggest migration crisis since World War II. The 19 men and women, who made a perilous journey across the desert and the sea to seek shelter in Europe, lined up on the runway of Rome’s Ciampino airport wearing light jackets, smiling and taking selfies before boarding a state plane. European migration commissioner Dmitris Avramopoulos and Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano escorted them to the aircraft taking them to an airport near the Arctic Circle where temperatures dipped below freezing overnight.

Today is a day of victory for Europe

Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano

More than 500,000 people have poured into Europe this year fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, prompting bitter disputes between member states about how to react and how to share out the responsibility. The EU plans to relocate a total of 160,000 refugees from the frontline states of Greece and Italy over two years. Another 100 asylum seekers will be sent to countries including Germany and Holland in coming weeks. Mr Avramopoulos said the relocation was “a tangible example of what we can do if we work together” and urged EU states to deport migrants who do not qualify for asylum.

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