Both the president of the European Council and the commissioner responsible for Migration called for actions before spring arrival
by Emanuele Bonini
A new migration crisis can not be ruled out. On the contrary, it is something that is quite likely next to come. The EU leaders look at refugees with concern because of the division within the Member States, of course, and because of a phenomenon which is far, far away, to be under control. «Migratory crisis is not over», warned the European Commissioner for Migration and Internal affairs, Dimitri Avramopoulos. «There is still a lot to do», as figures show. In 2016 more than 1,2 million people applied for asylum in the EU, and 181,436 people reached the Italian coasts. These are «unprecedented numbers», and the situation could worsen. «Flows are at a record level, and spring is approaching fast», stressed the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in the letter sent to the leader of the Member States ahead of the Malta summit.What Tusk wrote is nothing but a warning: once the good season will come, the Mediterranean sea will be theatre of new exodus.
Figures are at record level, and the instability in the southern Mediterranean region can make them even higher. «The situation on the ground requires immediate and urgent action, with and around Libya», where the vast majority of irregular migrants depart from, recalled Tusk. The European Union can't act beyond the international waters, and a political solution is then needed in order to stabilise Libya, something considered now in Brussels as «more important than ever». EU players are aware of the gravity of the situation. When it comes to migration, «2017 is a crucial year», stressed Avramopoulos, who recall Member States to show solidarity and act to find a common solution to what has to be treated as a common challenge. But EU players means above all the head of State and government. It's them who have to work together to set a real and genuine migration policy. This is just one of the main item in a political agenda containing huge issues - such as Brexit, French and German elections - which will test the viability of the EU. There is no much time remained: facts are needed. The alternative is another migration crisis. From Brussels just came a last recall.
A new migration crisis can not be ruled out. On the contrary, it is something that is quite likely next to come. The EU leaders look at refugees with concern because of the division within the Member States, of course, and because of a phenomenon which is far, far away, to be under control. «Migratory crisis is not over», warned the European Commissioner for Migration and Internal affairs, Dimitri Avramopoulos. «There is still a lot to do», as figures show. In 2016 more than 1,2 million people applied for asylum in the EU, and 181,436 people reached the Italian coasts. These are «unprecedented numbers», and the situation could worsen. «Flows are at a record level, and spring is approaching fast», stressed the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in the letter sent to the leader of the Member States ahead of the Malta summit.What Tusk wrote is nothing but a warning: once the good season will come, the Mediterranean sea will be theatre of new exodus.
Figures are at record level, and the instability in the southern Mediterranean region can make them even higher. «The situation on the ground requires immediate and urgent action, with and around Libya», where the vast majority of irregular migrants depart from, recalled Tusk. The European Union can't act beyond the international waters, and a political solution is then needed in order to stabilise Libya, something considered now in Brussels as «more important than ever». EU players are aware of the gravity of the situation. When it comes to migration, «2017 is a crucial year», stressed Avramopoulos, who recall Member States to show solidarity and act to find a common solution to what has to be treated as a common challenge. But EU players means above all the head of State and government. It's them who have to work together to set a real and genuine migration policy. This is just one of the main item in a political agenda containing huge issues - such as Brexit, French and German elections - which will test the viability of the EU. There is no much time remained: facts are needed. The alternative is another migration crisis. From Brussels just came a last recall.
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