Yesterday, the International Migration Agency presented data, according to which the number of refugees who have arrived in Europe by sea through Italy and Greece has exceeded half a million people. People are running from Eritrea, Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somali, Sudan, Pakistan, Albania and Iraq. Yves Pascouau, Director of Migration and Mobility Policies at the European Policy Centre, thinks that governments, ministers and heads of state are trying to help Italy and Greece and show solidarity with them. However, at the moment the number of dead and lost refugees has grown from 2812 (information from the middle of September) to 3944 people. Most of them are dying in the Mediterranean Sea.
Yves Pascouau thinks that the problem could be solved by improving the system of water rescue. And it is necessary to make sure that people do not ask dubious individuals for help crossing the Mediterranean Sea on unprepared ships. Certain measures should be taken in the fight against such pseudo-guides. “The EU states are holding the naval operation EUNAFOR, which is currently in the first stage of execution. Tracking is carried out in the waters of Libya, we have an agreement on the approval of the Security Council to conduct a surveillance operation, tracking in the waters of Libya.”
As for medium-term measures, the expert mentions “state support of third countries, which participate in the defense and protection of Syrian refugees. Two conferences will be held in October in Budapest, this is how the EU and Balkan states can respond to this humanitarian situation. Another conference will be held in November in Malta. Its topic is relations between the EU and African states. The combination of measures, which concern the change of rules of reception, presentation, granting of asylum and border security – these are medium-term measures.”
Yves Pascouau thinks about long-term measures as well: “At some point, the EU and its member states are asking: "How to develop a common policy of granting asylum to migrants?" There are different elements here: illegal migration, granting of political asylum, issues of legal migration, partnership with these countries.”
Pascouau pointed out that refugees who arrived in Europe more than five years ago could receive a residence permit; after 10 years – citizenship. Creation of centers for identification and registration of refugees in the EU will help to count how many people can receive refugee status. Yves Pascouau believes that, notwithstanding the number of refugees, even if the number reaches a million Europe should provide international protection to those who need it.
