EU eyes spending $760m on refugee crisis

2 March 2016, 3:12 pm

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The European Union’s head office wants to swiftly push through a proposal to earmark 700 million euros ($760 million) in humanitarian aid to deal with the refugee crisis.

EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides says Wednesday that 300 million euros ($325 million) would be earmarked for this year and be used “where it is most needed,” alluding to Greece and the nations along the Balkan trail that refugees use to move into the heartland of the 28-nation bloc The overall total would cover three years.

Refugees and migrants queue to receive food from the Greek Red Cross, at the port of Piraeus, southwest of central Athens, on February 29, 2016. (AFP / PANAYOTIS TZAMAROS)

Stylianides says the funds would not be diverted from aid programs aimed at non-EU nations.

His proposal will still need to be approved by the European parliament and the member states. EU leaders meet Monday for a summit focusing on the migration issue.

— AP