Hot issues

The warfare in Libya, the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, the popular upheavals in the Middle East, asylum rights, violence against women, the inclusion of the Roma, nuclear safety, community budget: a long list of issues were addressed in the plenary meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on April 4-7. The session however was marked by the turmoil in Northern Africa and the massive influx of refugees landing in Malta and Lampedusa (Italy). The decisions that will be taken by EU27 governments during EU27 Ministers of Interiors Council of April 11 are much awaited.Addressing the emergency, looking beyond. With a glance at the latest news and another at the EP blueprints MEPs discussed the need to probe into the causes of migration from North-African countries. However, attention is equally due to “the problem of the mounting numbers refugees” from the Southern Mediterranean, said Commissioner Cecilia Malström. On the subject the European Parliament has adopted a Report on “Migration flows arising from instability: scope and role of EU foreign policy”. The report addresses a number of issues that include: economic development in EU neighbouring countries, political democracy and stability, economic partnerships, and the role of the EU on the international scenario. The President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso engaged in a hot debate with MEPs. Italian MEP Fiorello Provera, who drafted the EP’s report on the issue, highlighted the document’s two underlying “motivations”: “to assess a pragmatic evaluation of migration and its structural causes, beyond political or ideological prejudice;” “delving into the role of foreign policy, in order to identify the possibilities of intervention on the profound causes of migration”. According to Provera “intervention should focus on the causes of instability in migrants’ countries of origin, through regional cooperation between the Countries of departure and transit Countries”. Provera claims, “European migration flow policies must be matched by the acceptance of the burden sharing principle”, “in compliance with the national obligation of solidarity, as provided for in article 80 of the EU Treaty”.Each country must do its share. In the days of the EP session, new landings of refugees sparked off the tone of the debate and after a boat carrying hundreds of refugees capsized causing their death. MEPs thus urged the EU as a whole to take in refugees from Libya and Tunisia. On the initiative of five MEPs representing Parliament’s respective political groups (EPP, Socialists & Democrats, Greens, Liberals and the European United Left) each country is asked to accept a certain immigration quota. Portuguese MEP Rui Tavares, rapporteur of the Refugees Report (in co-decision with the Council) accused Member States: “Negotiations have been ongoing for over a year but until today national governments failed to grant primary importance to this issue. No more talking, it’s time to act. Migration pressure on Malta and Lampedusa must be lifted. A humanitarian pathway linking Libya and the refugees’ countries of departure, namely Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia ought to be put into practice”. German MEP Nadja Hirsch added: “Joint action is needed to prevent these tragedies from happening again. EU Member States must clearly state how many immigrants can be granted asylum. Too many have already died”.The need to flee and renewed hopes. “Those who died in the Mediterranean over the past days were in need of international protection. They certainly had good reasons to flee from their countries if they took the sea in those conditions … but no answer has been given. European countries are charged with providing the answers”: German MEP Franziska Keller underlined the commitment for solidarity of EU Countries. On April 6 the EP observed a minute of silence for the victims of the forced exodus. Spanish MEP Antonio Masip Hidalgo, remarked, “I will ask my government to clearly communicate the number of people that can be granted asylum. I am a jurist, but it’s time to put an end to juridical legalities. Each country must pledge to take in a certain number of refugees”. German MEP Hans-Gert Poettering, former EP President, underlined: “The unrest in North African countries are reasons for hope. In a recent trip to Egypt and Tunisia I met many young people. They all expressed their wish to live in a free and democratic society. These expectations are jointly shared by Muslims, Christians and faithful of other religions alike”. “If the peaceful revolutions in these countries are successful the proponents of the clash of civilizations will be proved wrong”.