Pope calls on EU states to take greater responsibility over migrants

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Sep 2023 14:04
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According to Pope Francis, the people who risk their lives at sea do not invade, they look for welcome.

Pope Francis at the Cultural Center in the Belem neighborhood of Lisbon, during his five-day visit to attend the World Youth Day (WYD) for young Catholics on August 2, 2023 (AFP)

The Pope on Saturday reiterated his call for European governments to take greater responsibility in caring for migrants making perilous journeys across the Mediterranean. He stated, "Those who risk their lives at sea do not invade, they look for welcome."

As he made closing remarks on a gathering of bishops and young people from the Mediterranean region in the French port city of Marseille, Pope Francis emphasized that migration is "a reality of our times, a process that involves three continents around the Mediterranean and that must be governed with wise foresight, including a European response".

These statements from Pope Francis, made in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, come as Macron's government is planning stricter measures to manage migration.

The Pope's remarks align with his earlier statements upon arriving in France on Friday, where he underlined the imperative to rescue individuals at risk of drowning when left adrift at sea.

The manner in which Europe handles the substantial influx of individuals from the MENA region has gained significant weight in political debates.

This comes in the wake of last week's events when thousands of people arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa within a matter of days.

In addition, the Pope seemed to express his views on domestic French politics by addressing two of President Macron's initiatives, namely assisted dying and the inclusion of the right to abortion in the constitution.

He warned that old people risk being "pushed aside, under the false pretenses of a supposedly dignified and 'sweet' death that is more 'salty' than the waters of the sea," and also spoke of "unborn children, rejected in the name of a false right to progress, which is instead a retreat into the selfish needs of the individual".

Last week, the Italian island of Lampedusa declared a state of emergency due to over 8,000 undocumented migrants arriving in just three days, surpassing the island's permanent population. Lampedusa's Mayor, Filippo Mannino, described the situation as nearing a breaking point.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Lampedusa and pledged support for Italy to address the migrant influx. She proposed a ten-point action plan, known as the "Plan for Lampedusa," which includes repatriation for those without asylum, cooperation with Tunisia for development, and actions against migrant smuggling.

Italian interior ministry estimates indicate that since January, more than 130,000 migrants have entered Italy via the sea. This represents a significant increase compared to the same period last year when the number of migrants was slightly over 68,000.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced plans to increase the deportation of undocumented migrants by establishing dedicated detention facilities in every region of the country.

Presently, Italy has ten of these centers operational, with one temporarily closed for maintenance, according to the Minister.

The responsibility for constructing facilities for these migrants, expected to be situated in sparsely populated regions, will fall under the purview of the country's defense ministry.

According to Italian media estimates, implementing this new accommodation standard for migrants will incur a cost of more than 60 million euros ($64.1 million) for the country.