EU CIVIL WAR: Southern states DEMAND northern nations ’share responsibility’ for migration
NORTHERN European nations need to cough up more money and agree to a “comprehensive” immigration policy to combat the growing migrant crisis from Africa, a group of southern EU nations have demanded.
By CHARLIE BAYLISS
Express.co.uk
Tue, Apr 11, 2017
Leaders from Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta have begged on their northern European counterparts to help carry the burden following a meeting in Madrid – claiming that the Mediterranean Sea is “under extreme migratory pressure”.
The joint statement said: “EU migration policy must be based on shared responsibility and solidarity with those countries affected by migratory pressure due to their geographical location at the external borders of the Union.”
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy claimed the common migration policy was a top priority for the southern EU alliance, with Italian leader Paolo Gentiloni echoing his views.
Mr Gentiloni said all seven countries share “common geopolitical interests” in terms of “migrant flows”.
The group wants to bolster Brussels’ strategy on migration – including on cooperation with countries of origin, movement and destination; moving back irregular migrants and strengthening the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
Spain’s secretary of state Jorge Toledo told Politico that prioritising a common EU policy and making the northern nations pay was high on their agenda.
Mr Toledo said: “We’re the countries that spend the most resources… in border protection.
He added: “And we’re protecting the border of the whole EU, also that of the northern European countries.”
Malta’s prime minister Joseph Muscat labelled the gaggle of EU nations as the “most pro-European” of all informal groups from the crumbling superstate.
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