In September I chaired the Sea Migrant debate at Genoa Shipping Week and last month the panel discussion at the International Maritime Human Resources Forum in London.

From these two important coalface conferences, which attracted delegates from virtually all the EU countries and many other nations affected by refugee issues, the delegates drew up a 10-point plan of action to address the complex challenges of migrants into the EU.

Three seminal points emerged.

First, realistic and proactive steps are needed urgently to address the root causes of migrancy from those countries who are supplying the majority of refugees from Africa.

Second, the paramount responsibility of the EU is toprotect its external borders from illegal entrants.

And third, a full blown effort and statesmanship is needed to provide steady state government in Syria, Somalia, Libya and other destabilised states, and effective co-operation withRussia and active participation by the Gulf States is needed to achieve this.

“Where is the vision and leadership?” was a common cry from the EU citizens who attended these two conferences.