Today, solidarity on migration between Member States remains limited, and applied on an ad hoc basis, Labour MEP Alfred Sant has stated in the European Parliament plenary session.
During a joint debate on the preparation of the European Council of 24-25 June and the re-launch of the Malta declaration agreed at the Valletta Summit in November 2015, Alfred Sant said many still ignore that irregular migration is an EU problem, to be tackled at an EU level.
Addressing the use of an effective solidarity mechanism for migration, Alfred Sant said the migration emergency has been on-going for too long and tangible results are urgently required.
“Back in 2015, the Valletta summit on migration brought together European and African leaders. They agreed to address the root causes of irregular migration, enhance cooperation on legal migration, and prevent irregularmmigration.”
“Leaders promised to shoulder a common responsibility in a fair manner between countries of origin, transit and destination. Yet, five years after, Europe’s southern front is still facing a disproportionate burden through irregular migration and requests for humanitarian protection”, Alfred Sant stated.
“By way of asylum claims per capita in the EU for 2020, the three top countries were Cyprus with 838 claims, Malta with 482, and Greece with 378 claims per 100,000 inhabitants.
“This calls for responsible and concrete decisions. Firstly, tackle the actual root of irregular migration. Secondly, overhaul the current system towards a permanent and proportionate structure of allocation for asylum seekers. The ball remains in the Council’s court” Alfred Sant stated.
The Valletta summit on migration was held on 11 th and 12 th November 2015 and brought together European and African Heads of State and Government in an effort to strengthen cooperation and address the current challenges but also the opportunities of migration.
