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Etienne de Perier admits that “no country is capable of managing immigration alone” and calls for improving border management
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, September 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The representative of the European Migration Agency of the European Commission, Etienne de Perier, defended this Monday the new asylum and migration pact that is in the final phase of processing as an example of a “common and sustainable” policy to confront to the migratory flows that affect the European Union.
In a presentation at the ‘Conecta Conference. Canary Islands-Europe’ has admitted the “concern” of the European institutions about the increase in immigration due to “geopolitical, economic and social” issues in the countries of origin and transit.
He has acknowledged that pressure at EU borders has increased 14% this year but “the situation is not the same on all routes” because in the central Mediterranean, for example, arrivals have doubled so far this year. with some “peaks” such as the 8,000 migrants arriving in Lampedusa in three days, with almost 100 boats in one day.
Furthermore, he said that in the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans it has decreased slightly, but in Spain, especially through the Canary Islands, arrivals have increased by 24%. “We pay a lot of attention,” she added, highlighting that according to Frontex data, some 240,000 arrivals have been registered in Europe since January.
He has also pointed out that asylum applications have increased, around 720,000 this year, and Spain is the second country with 114,000 applications, only behind Germany, although it is still “far away” from the years 2015 and 2016.
De Perier has recognized that “no country is capable of managing immigration alone” and therefore has called for improving border management “in a fair, humane, sustainable and efficient way.”
Likewise, he has said that the immigration challenges “are not the same” as in 2016, when the pact proposals stalled and now it is about achieving “efficient and fast procedures”, always respecting fundamental rights; avoid “uncertainty for long periods of time” and achieve a “fair distribution of responsibility and solidarity of the member states”, plus “cooperation” with third countries.
Along these lines, he commented that after three years of negotiations there is an agreement and a “real commitment” to update the legislation for people in need of international protection and “further harmonize” the reception and integration perspectives, although “there remains to be negotiated.” many aspects”, among them, addressing crisis procedures while preserving fundamental rights.
The representative of the agency has not ignored the existence of human trafficking on migratory routes, with more than 7,000 victims annually, the majority women and girls, although the number of men affected by labor exploitation also increases.
De Perier understands that labor migration can “help strengthen” European economies and be an “engine” of development and that is why he has proposed that we must “attract skills and talent” in the face of the aging of the population and the shortcomings that exist in the health, social and agricultural branches.
ATTRACT TALENT IN SENDING COUNTRIES
For this reason, he has announced that the pilot project of ‘talent centers’ launched with Ukrainian refugees through Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria or Senegal will be deepened, to attract labor, and also in the 2011 EU directive on the ‘single permit’.
He has also indicated that the “deficiencies” that the EU has with legal migration must be addressed, in such a way that “more rights” must be offered to workers and “equal treatment” with EU workers must be achieved, and provide opportunities for education and help the reintegration “of those who want to return.”
He has also defended the action plan approved in June to try to prevent irregular departures and save lives through collaboration with African countries and strengthening border management and the “fight against criminal organizations.”
The community representative, who has cited the president of the EC, Ursula Von der Leyen – “the pact offers a balance between protection of borders and people, between sovereignty and solidarity” – has also insisted on “cooperation” with countries third parties and the financial support and support from European agencies that member countries receive.
