Like it or not, Europe is becoming a destination of choice for migrant/refugees from sub-Saharan Africa.
The problem is relatively minor at the moment but the European Union knows it will grow rapidly as large parts of Africa succumb to global warming and become essentially uninhabitable.
"The European commission yesterday warned of a fresh wave of tens of thousands of illegal migrants arriving on the beaches of southern Europe this summer and issued an appeal for help in curbing migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
"Franco Frattini, the EU commissioner for justice and home affairs, warned that there would be a new wave of migration when warmer weather arrives in April and accused EU member states of failing to establish permanent marine patrols to stem the tide of migrants in the Mediterranean and off the western coast of Africa.
"At a meeting in Dresden of EU interior and justice ministers, Mr Frattini said the equipment had to be made available by April, "otherwise it will be too late to react to the flow of migrants in the summer season which begins in April or May".
"'We have to be ready for spring, no later than that," he said.
"Malta and southern Italy have been inundated with thousands of migrants who arrive often penniless after paying high fees to people-traffickers for the perilous voyages on makeshift vessels. Many perish at sea trying to reach the EU.
"The Portuguese interior minister, Antonio Costa, told the meeting that the wretched scenes would not be restricted to the EU's southern Mediterranean borders, but could also be repeated to the east and to the north.
"He called on the new EU members of eastern Europe to develop a crisis management strategy."
In an ironic twist, several EU nations are debating how to increase immigration to fill shortages in IT and computer technology.
No comments:
Post a Comment