The Mediterranean is gradually becoming a silent massive cemetery. It already hides many thousands of potential migrants who never made it to fulfil their dreams. It is estimated that almost 20,000 men, women and children drowned in the region over the past 10 years.

Such tragedies include that of October 2013 when, off the island of Lampedusa, 380 migrants died in the shipwreck of their boat.

They also include that of the second week of September 2014, when about 500 migrants are said to have drowned as a result of traffickers purposely ramming their boat.

Meanwhile, many tragedies that affect regions of the world that are close to or border European frontiers, such as the Middle East and Africa, continue to induce several thousands of people, especially those who are still young, to flee.

Indeed, with the persistence of inequalities and violent conflicts, irregular migration is bound to increase and the flimsy boats, overloaded with their human cargo, will continue to cross the Mediterranean.

Very much aware of this terrible situation, Pope Francis’ strong imploration to the European Parliament was that “we cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery!”

“The absence of mutual support within the European Union runs the risk of encouraging particularistic solutions to the problem, solutions which fail to take into account the human dignity of immigrants and thus contribute to slave labour and continuing social tensions,” warned the Pope.

To look at the future, therefore, in a coherent approach, EU member states need to truly share the responsibility of international protection and adopt a more humane mission of protecting their borders.