EU pledges €2.4bn for migrant crisis

The European Commission yesterday approved €2.4bn ($2.6bn) of aid over six years for countries including Greece and Italy that have struggled to cope with a surge in numbers of immigrants.

Italy is to receive the most aid — nearly €560m while Greece will receive €473m.

Tensions have escalated this year as thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa try to gain asylum in the EU.