The Brief: Italians should be furious

Euractiv

By Georgi Gotev

6 July 2017

Unprecedented numbers of sub-Saharan African migrants are arriving in Italy. Most of them are not in need of international protection, and the EU and its member countries are doing nothing to share the burden.

Italy has threatened to stop receiving foreign ships carrying migrants and has called on other European countries to open their ports to rescue ships.

Meetings have been held between the interior ministers of France and Germany, together with EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

The Commission came up with a migrant “action plan” that earmarked €35 million in aid for Italy and promised to work with Libya and other countries to stem the flow of migrants at source.

However, no further specific relocation efforts are foreseen.

The problem is that the vast majority of migrants arriving in Italy are not eligible for relocation. Of all the migration flows into Europe, Italy has taken in nearly 85%. Most are sub-Saharan African men.

Among these, only Eritreans are eligible for relocation.

Nigerians are currently the number one nationality applying for international protection currently in Italy, accounting for more than 20% of all applications.

They are followed by Bangladeshis and Pakistanis, who, along with Nigerians, are not considered eligible for relocation.

In theory, migrants whose asylum applications are rejected should be returned to their home countries. But the vast majority remains in Europe illegally.

Rome is furious that NGOs act as taxis, going to pick the migrants close to the Libyan shore. Some reports even say the smugglers phone the captains of the NGO boats, telling them where to go.

Italy is active in engaging with Libya, Chad and Niger in order to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean. Its government is also brokering deals with Libyan tribes but feels the rest of the EU is not doing enough.

The head of European Asylum Support Office has said the peak of migration Italy is experiencing is nothing new. This is not true.

Modern technology, such as satellite phones, in the hands of smugglers, and smartphones with Lycamobile subscriptions in the hands of migrants, as well as the new giant inflatable boat industry nobody wants to control, will bring millions more migrants to Europe.

Thanks to its geographical location, the vast majority will wash up in Italy and probably remain stranded there.

The truth is that the international community is doing nothing to stop this. Frontex was revamped but this was more of a public relations exercise than anything else.

Europe needs external borders it can control effectively. Or it will collapse.


Source: http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/the-brief-italians-should-be-furious/