Migrant crisis threatens EU destruction

This week's summit of European government leaders will be crucial because failure to reach agreement on how the immigrant crisis should be managed can lead the European project to experience fatal catastrophe.

For this reason, the European Union must address the causes of this humanitarian tragedy, thus manifesting solidarity against those who flee persecution and war, but also solutions to the limit of entry for those who are of dire purpose.

Instability, uncertainty, terrorism, poverty, hunger and climate change keep major parts of Africa and the Middle East occupied and are the roots of immigration causes, but EU governments have come to this point very late, putting their solely to exercises that reduce damage on our borders.

By 2050, Africa's total population is projected to double to 2.5 billion. Persistent disobedience will turn hundreds of thousands of people we are now seeing into millions that will seek better life in Europe, with devastating consequences, even for Europe without capacity, but also for those seeking to migrate: 13 thousand people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean in the last three years, and many others have disappeared in the Sahara Desert.

A real strategy based on two strong pillars immediately came. First, we have to stop traffickers doing business with human lives, preventing their boats from passing through transit countries. Second, member states must obtain the share belonging to refugees coming to Europe through an automatic and mandatory mechanism.

The EU agreement with Turkey banned smuggling with people by financing -- among other things -- health care and education in countries of origin -- which thus led to the closure of the so-called Balkan road to immigrants. This should serve as a model to achieve similar results in the Mediterranean.

EU agreements with transition countries like Nigeria must be strengthened and extended, including Mauritania, Mali, Chadin, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, but Libya itself.

The Dublin correction of the EU asylum system needs a reshuffle, as well as needs to be replaced by a more fair and effective alternative. Of the 650 thousand asylum seekers of 2017, 416 thousand were located in only three countries -- Germany, Italy and France. This blindness is related to the outdated way of functioning this regulation, which is contributing to tensions among member states.

The European Parliament is playing a pro-active role and has submitted a reform proposal of the asylum system several months ago that would make the separation of migrants more equal. I have written to EU heads of state that they should use it as the basis for moving forward.

To convince the more hesitant member states to accept the European Parliament's plan, we must ensure that the EU is committed to the task of policeizing external borders and preventing those expelled from North Africa. This would allow UNHCR-led programmes to relocation those who can come to Europe safely and equally to EU member states.

Failure to offer a creditable European strategy based on these two pillars could culminate in renationalisation of immigration policies, the closure of national borders and the full collapse of the Schengen system.

At the same time, the EU must co-ordinate efforts to stabilise Libya, paving the way for it to become a partner with whom it can co-operate.

Soon I will go to Libya to discuss how we can support this process and how we can make a parliamentary co-operation, including the role I can play in organising the next elections. The European Parliament is ready to make its resources available: a conference that will gather the parties in Brussels would be a step in the right direction.

Education of the causes for emigrant ecstasy requires a new partnership with the African continent, supported by an ambitious Marshall plan for Africa in the future EU budget. Our call for at least 40 billion could rise to 500 billion with private sector investments over the coming decade. The immigrant crisis could end the European project. We don't have to sit back until this happens. We need to display courage, determination, and ambition to work in a new joint effort.

The heads of governments of the EU states must let their national interest and finally offer solutions to our citizens, for what they expect and deserve. /Take from Guardian, translate Periscope