NGOs are unimpressed with the European Commission’s 10-point plan to tackle the migration crisis, claiming “it offers nothing new” to help save lives.
The plan was revealed by European Commission vice president Federica Mogherini during an emergency meeting of EU foreign and home affairs ministers on Monday.
Maria Pisani, who heads migrant integration foundation Integra, yesterday said the plan left a lot to be desired, describing it as offering nothing new. It did not reflect the courageous moves that were required and did not seem to have a focus on saving lives.
The plan recommends, among other things, gathering information on smugglers and speeding up the return of migrants. The proposals will be fleshed out by EU leaders at a crisis summit tomorrow.
Arguably the main proposal being put forward is for the EU to bolster border control operations currently taking place in the seas south of Malta.
Smugglers, unscrupulous and dangerous as they may be, offer a service based on demand and supply. We cannot stop migration
Asked whether this was enough, Dr Pisani said the current border monitoring operations were not aimed at saving lives. Beefing them up would therefore be helpful but would not ensure lives were saved.
The sentiment was shared by human rights lawyer Neil Falzon who said that if these efforts did not shift to search and rescue, there would be “no solution”.
Likewise, the issue was flagged by Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS). A spokesman for the mission said that while increased commitment was welcome, it hoped it would be to search and rescue.
Dr Falzon raised other concerns, such as the lack of a timeline for the implementation of the proposals.
Dr Pisani, meanwhile, said the plan made no reference to providing an alternative for migrants considering risking life and limb on rickety and crowded smugglers’ boats.
Commenting on the proposal to capture and destroy the vessels used to smuggle migrants, Dr Falzon said closing the door on Libya would simply push migrants east or west.
“The traffickers and smugglers are exploiting a business opportunity, and like all successful businesses will adapt their business model to a new environment,” he said.
Dr Pisani said she was concerned by the plan’s “almost exclusive focus on smugglers”, which seemed to indicate that Brussels believed this would stop the flow of migration.
“Smugglers, unscrupulous and dangerous as they may be, offer a service based on demand and supply. We cannot stop migration,” she said.
Turning to the proposal to improve migrant repatriation programmes, Dr Pisani said this showed ignorance of the fact that the majority of migrants arriving in Malta were entitled to remain here.
“The vast majority are fleeing war and conflict and as such are granted some form of protection. The plan appears to ignore this reality,” she said.