No more carnage ” “on the doors of Europe

Don’t turn a blind eye; assume your responsibilities according to a pondered solidarity criteria; don’t make presents to populists, who build on the skin of migrants their electoral fortunes. Frans Timmermans, first Vice-President of the EU Commission, the most representative figure of the Juncker College, provided a political interpretation of the European Migration Program presented in Brussels past May 13. The Dutch political expert leaves it up to others to delve into the details of the Commission proposal, due to be examined by the heads of Government and State of the European Union. EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos pointed out the difference between “relocation” and “resettlement”; the two EU officials entered into the merits of the actions agreed in the short and long term explaining how much money will be invested. In practice, funds and means to Frontex, Triton and Poseidon will be tripled while the scope for rescue operations will be expanded; in the period 2015-16, the Commission will allocate 89 million euro. “Relocation” will concern refugees already present in the EU and will be based on 4 criteria to determine the “share” of national distribution: total population of the country, GDP, unemployment, refugees already hosted. The “resettlement”, is a voluntary scheme for the reception of refugees who have already been granted the right to international protection and who are currently located in camps in third countries: the EU intends accommodate 20 thousand of them, for whom have been appropriated 50 million for the current biennium. The Commission’s agenda includes also other chapters, such as the naval operation against human traffickers and their vessels, for which the EU has asked for a UN mandate. Timmermans, instead faced the heart of the issue. “Ours is a global program” to put an end to “humanitarian tragedies in the Mediterranean” and “provide answers to a problem that won’t disappear simply because we decided to ignore it”. Mass migrations have remote origins, historically and geographically distant from the EU, but in fact, desperate and poor in every part of Africa and Asia are flocking in Europe: we need to act. There are no other concrete and operational answers. A “Europe of values “, with ancient traditions of civilization, culture, democracy and protection of human rights, can not afford simply to say: let’ reject them at sea – a clean and sharp message to London. Timmermans continued with his usual firm and determined tone: “These proposals will prompt debate and attract criticism. But it is not acceptable for people around the EU to say ‘yes, stop people dying in the Mediterranean’ and at the same time remain silent when the question is raised of what should happen to these people once they were saved in the Mediterranean”. This second message once again passes by the United Kingdom and arrives in Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and not only. It is directed at all those governments that forget that the solidarity criteria (and of shared responsibility) is a pillar of the entire community integration process: when it comes to distributing structural funds, or when support is needed by economically disadvantaged regions, when it is necessary to act to step up the single market, to make new achievements in the field of research, to protect consumers, public health, or the environment. The European “community” is built with small converging steps, not with backward leaps. The Commissioner went on underlying the third point. “The biggest gift that we can give to populists and extremists”, is “to allow a broken system to remain broken”. “It’s time for Europe to apply its existing rules properly” to save human lives, to help exposed countries to address migration flows, to counter human trafficking and organised crime, to help the countries of departure and transit to cope with the emergency and help them develop at economic and social level through cooperation for development, in order to tackle the root causes of the migration phenomenon. This plan – in the intentions of the Vice-President of the Commission – should keep the borders and the doors open to legal, controlled migration, which gray, “grandmother” Europe is in need of. Timmermans could go on. But prompted by the questions of journalists present at the Berlaymont Bulding, prompted by the questions of the questions of journalists present at the Berlaymont Building, in the Brussels seat, added: “The tragic loss of human lives in the Mediterranean upset all Europeans. Our citizens expect Member States and EU institutions to act to prevent the recurrence of similar tragedies. “The agenda of the Commission (which immediately gained the support of COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community) is a proposal – says Timmermans – that reflects “our common European values and gives a response to citizens fears in the face of unacceptable human suffering and vis a vis the inadequate implementation of common asylum standards on asylum. Finally, he highlighted solidarity, which is “always expressed in words by the Member States, but now is the time to prove it with facts”. A Europe of values and realism – that of Timmermans – which in the case of migration appears the most viable and useful.