Spain rescues 569 migrants as EU discusses influx

Spanish authorities have released video of some of the 569 migrants they rescued after they crossed the Mediterranean in 25 leaky dinghies and a canoe.

European leaders holding informal discussions ahead of summit to discuss solutions on migration crisis

The Associated Press ·
Migrants, part of a group intercepted aboard dinghies off the coast in the Mediterranean Sea, are seen on a rescue boat upon arrival at the port of Malaga, Spain on Saturday. (Jon Nazca/Reuters)

Spanish authorities have released video of some of the 569 migrants they rescued after they crossed the Mediterranean in 25 leaky dinghies and a canoe.

The migrants, thought to be mainly from North Africa, were found Friday night and into Saturday morning, Spain's Maritime Rescue Service said.

European Union leaders were holding hastily arranged talks Sunday for informal discussions on the migration crisis and their growing rift over migrants and refugees, ahead of a full EU summit that starts Thursday.

While the number of migrants arriving has dropped since its height in 2015 and 2016, when 2.5 million people applied for asylum in the EU, the continent is deeply divided on how to cope with the largest influx of refugees and migrants since the Second World War.

Facing a domestic political crisis in Germany over the topic, Chancellor Angela Merkel will be seeking to get EU leaders to forge a joint approach to manage the influx.

What started as talks between a half dozen leaders now involves about 16, as others demanded to take part.

These migrants were found off the coast in the Mediterranean and brought to the Spanish port of Malaga on Saturday. (Jon Nazca/Reuters)

At the heart of the problem lies deep divisions over who should take responsibility for arriving migrants, how long they should be required to accommodate them, and what should be done to help those EU countries hardest hit, like Italy and Greece.

While authorities in Italy have been clamping down on the movement of people, Spain has taken a softer approach since the new centre-left government of Pedro Sanchez came to power in early June.

Among the most recent arrivals, more than 100 were plucked from a wooden raft heading from West Africa to the Canary Islands.

With files from The Associated Press