EU leaders on Thursday agreed to relieve Italy and Greece of 40,000 people that landed on the two countries’ territory over recent months, people alternately described as asylum-seekers, refugees, migrants, irregular migrants, immigrants, illegals etc.

Most of the foreign nationals hail from regions where conflicts are raging in the Middle East and North Africa, although others — from sub-Sahara Africa — are would-be economic migrants drawn to prosperous Europe.

A draft final summit statement said EU leaders agreed to offer assistance to an emerging humanitarian crisis, noting that  “…the relocation over two years from Italy and Greece to other member states of 40,000 persons in clear need of international protection, in which all member states will participate.”

EU countries will take part on a voluntary basis.