Mounting tension over the treatment of refugees in the European Union has brought the bloc's divided asylum policies into the spotlight. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has underscored the need for an effective and humane response to the issue.
Von der Leyen also announced a plan to increase the bloc’s budget target by 15-billion euros to help member states deal with the crisis. This, amid a contentious debate on asylum seeker responsibilities in the 27-member bloc. In France, political parties dispute new arrival regulations. President Emmanuel Macron has held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome amid tensions between the two states. On the other hand, Italy, which has witnessed a surge in the influx of refugees in the past months has lashed out at Germany. Italy and Germany have clashed over Germany's funding of charity projects for migrants. Rome holds Berlin accountable for encouraging migration.