European ministers discuss migration after France-Italy clashes

The issue of who should assume responsibility for those who arrive in the rich European bloc in small boats to escape poverty or war has long plagued relations within the bloc.

The issue was revived during November after the Paris and Rome crash after France accepted the ship “Ocean Viking” that had saved 234 immigrants over the Mediterranean, which Italy had turned back.

“We cannot and should not deal with crises one at a time, from one ship to another, incident after the incident. We need a single framework based on the EU law”, European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said after arriving at the meeting, urging member states to adopt new migration legislation operating throughout the European bloc.

Ahead of the talks, the EU Executive Commission determined a 20-point action plan designed to address growing migration to the central Mediterranean.

One of the points of the plan was strengthening co-operation with third countries, including steps to prevent North Africa from leaving.

The plan also aims at a greater EU co-ordination for research and rescue, including co-ordination between coastal states and countries of the origin of ships that disseminate migrants.

Over 90,000 immigrants and refugees have arrived this year in the 27-nation European bloc via the central Mediterranean road. One of the roads used was from North Africa to Italy or Malta, which marked growth of 50% from 2021.

“Only as Europeans can we deal with these very difficult issues of irregular immigration”, said French Interior Minister Gerald Darman, who had called for the emergency meeting after calling Italy “egoist” that did not allow the ship “Ocean Viking” to dock on its banks.

With immigration mounting internal tensions in both France and Italy, Mr. Darman said at the time that France would no longer accept about 3,000 immigrants who had arrived in Italy and who Paris had earlier pledged to accept.

He said Friday that the position would not change if all refused to do more for immigrants.

Southern EU countries, including Italy, Spain and Greece, where most immigrants arrive, say there is much pressure on them and EU states in the north are not helping them enough.

“The issue of irregular immigration is not only about arrival countries, but about the entire EU”, said Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca.

While most of the attention is in the arrival of migrants from the Mediterranean, illegal EU entry through the Western Balkans has also marked growth, and EC Vice President Schinas said the EC would also prepare proposals on this front.

“in particular, we are planning to present another action plan for the Western Balkans route, which will be ready and tabled before the EU summit and Balkan leaders to be held in Tirana”, EC Vice President Schinas said.

Migrants come to Serbia from Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria before trying to cross into European Union member states, Hungary and Croatia.

Most of the migrants passing through the Balkans come from Afghanistan and Syria, while others come from Middle Eastern countries, Africa or Asia. Serbia, Hungary and Austria have recently announced a joint effort to curb migration across the region.

The EU border agency Frontex says migration routes through the Western Balkans have been the most active, with more than 22,000 bans on borders there in October alone, nearly three times the same month of 2021. /voa