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France to create 11,000 more places for asylum seekers and refugees by 2016

Associated Press
Published | Updated

France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, speaks to the media during a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced during a media conference a plan to handle the influx of migrants. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, speaks to the media during a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced during a media conference a plan to handle the influx of migrants. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, walks through the lobby of the Elysee Palace to a media conference in Paris, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced during a media conference a plan to handle the influx of migrants. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

France says it intends to create 11,000 more places in centers for asylum seekers and housing for refugees as part of a plan to help deal with the flow of thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

Around 100,000 migrants have entered Europe so far this year, while on the French-Italian border, riot police forcibly removed dozens of migrants.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says the ambition of his plan is "to provide long-term solutions."

He said Wednesday that France will open 4,000 more places in centers for asylum seekers by next year and another 5,500 places to house refugees who were granted legal status in France.

In addition, 1,500 new emergency places will be created as temporary housing solution for illegal migrants.