EBN – After another shipwreck off Libya’s coast, leaders from nine southern European countries convened to urge the EU to finalise a solid migration deal.
Malta hosted the meeting, with several attendant countries like France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and other countries.
The meeting affirmed the need for the EU to increase its preventive efforts of arrival from North Africa.
Addressing the Urgency
Furthermore, the leaders called for immediate action to dismantle human trafficking and smuggling networks, as well as organised crime gangs.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed the necessity for EU states to take control of who enters their territories.
The minister also stressed that they must retake power from the smugglers who currently dictate arrivals and control the bloc.
He further emphasised the importance of repatriating individuals not eligible for asylum and establishing organised legal migration pathways.
Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, highlighted the need to expedite the repatriation process for migrants whose asylum requests are denied.
Southern European Leaders to Address Root Causes
The leaders underscored the critical nature of addressing the migration crisis at its source. They also advocated for comprehensive partnerships with countries in the southern Mediterranean.
Efforts to strengthen surveillance operations of Europe’s external borders were emphasised to deter departures and dismantle human trafficking networks.
The tragic incident off Libya’s coast further intensified the resolve of these countries to call for immediate action.
Indeed, they urged the EU to prioritise building more robust partnerships to tackle the crisis from its roots.
