«Right to help. But the word given must be kept. Italy left alone»- Corriere.it

Brussels «I think it is necessary, first of all, to protect borders and a state must be able to decide who arrives and who is not welcome in the EU. This is easy enough on the land border. There is a physical boundary there, a fence can also be built as needed. It is very difficult in the case of a maritime border, as we see in the Mediterranean, the Aegean or the Turkish sea”. The German Manfred Weber is president of the EPP and group leader in the EU Parliament: “If you can’t distinguish between illegal migrants and asylum seekers and refugees, then you can’t help those who are really in need”. For Weber “this crisis between Italy, France and Germany must be a bell for the Czech presidency to finalize the agreement on the pact for migration and asylum: a common solution must be found”.

Is there a migration emergency in the Mediterranean?

«Yes, there is a migration emergency, but also in the rest of the European Union because the numbers are growing rapidly. On the Mediterranean route we have an increase of about 80% compared to last year’s data and in the rest of the EU we now have an additional migratory flow from the East represented by Ukrainian refugees. Throughout the EU there is a special worrying situation. And this is why I expect the EU as a whole to find an answer. So it’s not a question that concerns a single country.

How do you read the tensions between Italy and France on the Ocean Viking affair?

“Countries like France and Germany have promised the countries of the South a voluntary relocation programme. They promised that they would take charge of 8,000 refugees from Italy and other countries to help them, because they are under pressure as they are on the border. But only 117 people have been relocated and of these France has taken 38: these are the figures received from the Commission. Paris and Berlin have not fulfilled their commitment. But we should keep our promises: this is the starting point of all European solutions. Instead, Italy has been left alone in recent years and also this year. I invite France and Germany to keep their promise”.

France accuses Italy of not respecting international laws on sea rescues. Agree?

«It is essential that Europe does not lose its basis of values. The right of asylum is one of the fundamental principles for which those who fight for democracy, for freedom, for human rights, on a global level must see the EU as a safe haven. Like who is now fleeing Iran. Of course we have to rescue people at sea if they are looking for safety. And I am sure that all the border guards that are there in the Mediterranean, from the Italian ones, to Frontex, from the Maltese to the Greeks and the Spanish, are trying their best to keep these principles alive.

Italy wants to strengthen measures to counter the activities of NGO ships, the German ambassador in Italy praised their activity, the Commission said there is a clear legal obligation to save life at sea, without distinction between ships. What is the position of the EPP?

«I fully share the idea that it doesn’t matter if it’s a private ship or a state’s border guard: first of all it’s about saving lives. But the question is: who sent the rescued migrants’ boats out to sea? The letter from Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus makes us understand that they are once again left alone. There is a second aspect: the great problem in the Mediterranean is human traffickers. We must work to block them at European level. Many EU countries are adopting a restrictive approach on migration: Denmark, Sweden and now Great Britain. However, this must be implemented not against migrants, but against traffickers”.

What do you think of the Italian request for a code of conduct for NGO ships?

«I like it very much, I am in favor of a common approach on how to manage the rescue mechanisms and the approach to rescue in the Mediterranean. It might help us organize things better. And it is clear that the Member State must have the lead”.

What are the obstacles to relocations foreseen by the voluntary solidarity mechanism?

“It’s a matter of political will. And if there is very little political will in France and Germany to accept more migrants from Italy, then the Italian government should not be blamed for trying to control as much new arrivals as possible. About 50% of all migrants arriving in the Mediterranean and in Italy are not “classic” refugees fleeing a war or asylum seekers. They are illegal immigrants who are looking for work and not protection. That’s why we have to be honest: this has nothing to do with the right to asylum”.