The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, defended this Friday a “deeper cooperation” between the European Union (EU) and the Mediterranean countries in the face of “shared challenges”, at a time of migratory pressure, mainly in Italy. .
“The Mediterranean offers enormous opportunities, especially for the ecological transition, [mas] It also harbors shared challenges, which is why we must join forces with our southern neighbors,” Von der Leyen said.
In a publication on the social network, both sides of the sea will benefit us all.”
The MED9 meeting – in which, in addition to Portugal, heads of Government and State from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta, Italy, Slovenia and Spain – will take place this Friday in Valletta, the Maltese capital, in a moment of migratory pressure and when Rome insists on a common and coherent position to better manage migration.
Following Thursday’s progress towards a new common migration pact, new community rules on migration will be one of the main topics addressed at the summit, with a view to cooperation with Mediterranean countries such as Tunisia and Turkey.
The meeting comes after, in the middle of this month, more than 10,000 migrants arrived in just three days on the Italian island of Lampedusa, which once again highlighted the migration debate in the EU.
At the time, the European Commission announced an action plan to address irregular immigration in Lampedusa, which includes strengthening support for Italy, as well as implementing the memorandum of understanding signed between the EU and Tunisia.
Tunisia is one of the main exit points for irregular migrants to Europe via the eastern Mediterranean route and signed, in July, a memorandum of understanding with the EU – in which Italy was a key actor – to combat migrant trafficking through change of funds for the country, at least 700 million euros in EU funds.
The central Mediterranean route is used by migrants and asylum seekers to reach the EU from North Africa to European territory, such as Malta and the Italian regions of Lampedusa, Calabria and Sicily.
Italy is, in fact, one of the countries that remains most reluctant when it comes to the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, after Germany backtracked on Thursday and said it would vote in favor of the compromise proposal. on crisis regulation. the piece that remains to be approved to complete the reform of community regulations on migration.
The file has now passed to the representatives of the Member States within the EU, with the aim of reaching a final agreement before the European elections in June 2024, to equitably share responsibilities between the Member States and act in solidarity with when addressing migratory flows.
In view of what was previously proposed, the text now being debated eliminates solidarity fees for the relocation of irregular immigrants, providing for different forms of financial compensation.
Created in 2013, the MED9 alliance brings together nine Member States that are part of the Mediterranean basin, the euro and the Schengen area (with the exception of Cyprus).
Source: TSF
