European approach needed for migration, says Italian envoy

25 giugno 2015

2 min di lettura

(AGI) London, June 25 - The Italian ambassador to GreatBritain, Pasquale Terracciano, told the BBC in London that aEuropean approach is needed to address the migrant problem. Theambassador recalled that, "62,000 of the 127,000 migrantsarriving by sea this year landed in Italy", and asked Europeanpartners for more aid and cooperation. "We immediately needEuropean run centres to receive, identify, but also to feedthese desperate people who arrive by boat," he continued."Think if Margate (an English seaside resort) received 2000people per day: the police and local society would be very hardpressed," said the ambassador. He also stressed that the futurereception structures for migrants in Europe cannot be run as"detention centres and concentration camps, but as places totake care of these people. And asylum seekers, should besegregated from illegal immigrants, who must be sent back."Moreover, he continued, "those seeking asylum do so becausethey have escaped war, persecution and torture." Support from Italy's European partners is thus essentialbecause "the current system is not fair. The burden should bedistributed among the different European countries inaccordance with their situation and possibilities", with anintegrated approach; and some asylum seekers must be resettledin other countries "as a symbolic message to our publicopinion". Ambassador Terracciano also suggested "aEuropean fund" to help Italy in its reception operation and tocooperate with the migrants' countries of origin. However, henevertheless stressed the need to send back illegal immigrants:"We cannot let people drown in the Mediterranean, but theillegal ones must be sent back, so relatives and friends backhome understand that they have merely lost time." (AGI) . .