MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Several EU states imposed new strict controls on internal borders and sealed external frontiers to stop the a surging influx of migrants from Syria. The UN estimates that 4 million Syrians have fled their homeland to escape war and atrocities committed by the violent Islamic State extremist group.
"People do not stop running away from mass rape and beheading by Daesh [ISIL]… Away from a living hell. Let's stop these cynical policies, let's stop these naive policies, let's honor our obligation to help people who need protection, let's make legal ways to enter Europe instead of pushing refugees in the hands of smugglers. Let's distribute the responsibilities among us in the name of solidarity," Nikolaj Villumsen said.
The lawmaker observed that those gathering at European borders were not enemies, but refugees who needed help, while European budgets were providing increased funding for border security.
"This year alone, more than 2,500 people have lost their lives as they have drowned in the try to come to Europe. They are victims of a cynical policy that has prevailed in the European Union and in many European countries. This is a cynical policy aimed at scaring away refugees from going to Europe."
The EU border protection agency Frontex claims over 500,000 migrants crossed European Union external borders in the first eight months of 2015.
