Press statement of PES Group President Catiuscia Marini

"We have to act quickly to stop the deadly exploitation of those who hope for a better future", urges the President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, on the eve of the European Council meeting to discuss the Mediterranean refugee crisis. "While hundreds drown day after day on our doorstep, and the countries and regions most directly concerned because of their position struggle to provide safety and a minimum of welcome, the debates at EU level continue as if nothing had happened," she points out.

The President of the Umbria Region (Italy) recalls that, after the tragedy of Lampedusa in 2013 and the proliferation of declarations of shock and horror, the Mare Nostrum operation of Italy still was not supported to be continued jointly by the EU. "Now it is blatantly obvious that saving money on search and rescue costs lives every day", she says, pointing to the serious difficulties facing local and regional authorities in those countries which are the first entry point into Europe.

"We know that it takes effort to explain to citizens in our towns and regions what needs to be done, that is, to provide solidarity and help those in need. But in turn, we need solidarity from all EU Member States and a common EU migration policy", she urges, calling for greater efforts to rescue people in immediate danger, but also for fair and transparent ways for all Member States to receive a share of the refugees and integrate them.  "We have to work for a policy framework which provides asylum for those entitled to it, and legal and regulated channels of immigration for those who have other reasons to want to come. Only then can 'we' be Europe!", she concludes.

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