EU Immigrants: Is Bulgaria’s border wall forcing migrants to risk deadly crossings?

Europe-bound migrants are being forced to try the world’s deadliest sea crossing because of tighter security at other land borders, latest figures suggest.

Migrants arriving in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea rose by 295 percent in 2014, according to data from the UN’s refugee agency.

In contrast, numbers entering Greece and Bulgaria by land from Turkey have decreased over the last two years, after both countries introduced increased border security.

William Spindler, spokesman for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), said there is a link between the two trends, claiming increased security on the borders with Bulgaria and Greece has ‘made migrants try more dangerous routes’.

Up to 1,500 migrants have died in the Mediterranean in the first four months of this year, against the 3,500 that perished in 2014.

Read more: Is Bulgaria’s border wall forcing migrants to risk deadly crossings? | euronews, world news

European Soccer Championship: Italy celebrates a magical night against Germany

It was Italy's night against the Germans, on and off the field.

Premier Mario Monti and striker Mario Balotelli gave a much-needed boost to a country suffering for months under harsh austerity measures and embarrassed by a match-fixing scandal in its national sport in which dozens have been arrested.

Then came Thursday. At an EU summit in Brussels, Monti, an economist by trade, led the charge against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had been resisting ways of easing strains on indebted governments in southern Europe.

To the east in Warsaw, the talented soccer player with a discipline problem led Italy's national team to a 2-1 victory over Germany, propelling them into the finals of the European soccer championships. Balotelli's two goals were so breathtaking to watch — unstoppable, intimidating and elegant — that fans and critics alike were united in awe.

"They may be the bosses of Europe, but in soccer we command," headlined Italy's leading Corriere della Sera.

Read more: Italy celebrates a magical night against Germany - SFGate