European Union leaders have reached a deal aimed at controlling the number of migrants and refugees trying to enter Europe.
A hard-fought, but vaguely worded deal was struck early today after more than nine hours of negotiations at an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium.
According to Reuters, the leaders agreed that “controlled centres” should be set up in member states on a voluntary basis for “rapid and secure” processing to distinguish between irregular migrants and refugees eligible for asylum.
It was not yet clear which countries would host the centres.
Relocation and resettlement from the centres would also happen on a voluntary basis, the joint statement said, suggesting countries will not be required to take in people.
The deal follows weeks of diplomatic wrangling over migrant rescue ships, and which country should take them in.
Meanwhile, Coastguard officials said today that around 100 people were thought to have drowned off the Libyan coast, with 14 rescued.
They were found in waters to the east of the capital, Tripoli.
