A top European Union leader conceded in unusually candid comments on Wednesday that the EU response to the deadly Mediterranean migrant crisis was too little, too late. AP cited Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker as saying, he also called the EU offers to do more in the immediate future "inadequate." Beyond the willingness to come up with immediate humanitarian aid to deal with the tragedies of hundreds of dead at sea, the EU has continued to turn a cold shoulder to most of the thousands that attempt to make the Mediterranean crossing to build a better life in Europe. To force a change, Juncker and the European Parliament called for the imposition of a mandatory quota system for the 28 EU nations to take care of the refugees and not leave it to frontline countries like Italy, Greece and Malta, or those like Germany and Sweden who are sheltering a disproportionate amount of asylum seekers. "We need to share solidarity," Juncker told EU lawmakers, and also consider legal migration much more. "We have to open the doors to make sure they don't come in through the windows." A parliament resolution approved by a 449-130 margin, with 93 abstentions, called for a quota plan. It also urged EU nations to provide more places for refugee resettlement and to issue more humanitarian visas to asylum seekers before they depart, allowing them to travel to Europe by traditional means instead of using the dangerous sea route. -- SPA 20:20 LOCAL TIME 17:20 GMT تغريد
