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Emigrants given envelopes stuffed with EU cash
Emigrants given envelopes stuffed with EU cash
Emigrants given envelopes stuffed with EU cash in most bizarre twist to migrant crisis yet Emigrants are to be handed envelopes of cash under a £550 million EU scheme, sparking fears the funds could be used by human traffickers for people smuggling. Despite dangers of what they could spend this money on, Brussels officials said it would help the tens of thousands of migrants arriving illegally in Greece “maintain their dignity.” An EU official has admitted that the failure of the Commission to handle the crisis means it was having to set up a Disaster Fund, which is usually reserved for humanitarian crisis in Africa. This EU aid plan will be used to help charities to provide essentials, including medicines, blankets and food. Commissioner in charge of humanitarian aid, Christos Stylianides, said he believed migrants should be able to buy things for themselves, rather than relying on handouts. Tory MEP David Campbell-Bannerman last night said: “There is a danger that by handing over cash rather than basic essentials, British taxpayers’ money could end up in the hands of the human traffickers smuggling people through Europe. This is no way to ensure our security in Britain.” People smugglers are currently offering €1,000 to help migrants make the journey from the Greek border with Macedonia to Belgrade in Serbia. The European Commission yesterday launched the €700million (£550million) humanitarian disaster relief fund that will be paid for using existing resources in the EU budget.
