The Malta Independent 12 May 2024, Sunday
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European Union migrant numbers down in September

Tuesday, 13 October 2015, 15:20 Last update: about 10 years ago

The European Union's border control agency says 170,000 migrants were detected entering the bloc in September, down from a record high of 190,000 in August.

The Warsaw-based agency also said Tuesday that the total number of migrants entering the EU from January to September stands at 710,000, with the Greek islands, especially Lesbos, hardest hit by the influx of people. That compares to 282,000 recorded in all of 2014. Frontex said Syrian refugees make up the largest group of people arriving in Europe by that route.

The organization also noted that the number of migrants arriving in Italy by boat from Libya has fallen due to a shortage of boats in Libya and worsening weather. Frontex said the numbers arriving in Italy fell by half in September to 12,000.

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The prime minister of Norway says the oil-rich Scandinavian country would be willing to take its share in the European Union's relocation of refugees from countries hardest hit by the migration crisis.

Erna Solberg says non-EU member Norway has not yet decided how many people it will take.

Solberg says the number of asylum-seekers in Norway could reach 23,000 this year, up from previous estimates of 16,000. In 2016, it could reach 33,000.

Speaking before the Storting, or Parliament, she said Tuesday that should 40,000 to 50,000 people be granted asylum in Norway, costs over the next five years could be up to 50 billion kroner ($6.2 billion).

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