The Lampedusa tragedy and the death of so many people highlighted the inhumanity of push-back policies and of those who proposed them, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola has said.

“Expressing solidarity after death is no substitute for showing solidarity during life and we condemn the hypocrisy of those who today show solidarity but yesterday were the foremost proponents of push-back policies,” he said.

Prof. Cassola said European political leaders should ensure they adopt the concept of solidarity and responsibility sharing in practice, while revising the Dublin convention accordingly to allow refugee status seekers to move within the EU and relieve the disproportionate burden carried by smaller member states.