Vita gazette – The migrant crisis between Italy and France has revealed the iceberg of the migrant problem within the EU. Italy, which bore most of the burden of immigrants, was the only voice. All state representatives, from President Mattarella to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the leader of the Catholic world, Pope Francis, have launched the message that “the EU should take responsibility and produce a common and fair solution.”

President Mattarella: The solution is in EU policy

The response to the migratory challenge will only be successful if it is supported by the criteria of solidarity within the Union. Regarding migrants, “shared choices of the European Union” are needed. This was stated by President Sergio Mattarella speaking in Maastricht on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty.

“While we intensify the dialogue with third countries of origin and transit of migrants, we must work so that the principles of coordination and shared responsibility between Member States guide the common response to a phenomenon determining our own growth prospects. The response to the migratory challenge will only be successful if supported by the criteria of solidarity within the Union and cohesion in the external response and by a forward-looking policy towards the African Region.”

Giorgia Meloni: “We are the only port in Europe but I don’t agree”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni underlined that the Ocean Viking ship was the first NGO ship to dock in France with 230 immigrants and said: “It has created a very strong reaction against Italy, where since the beginning of this year about 90,000 immigrants arrived. This is the only Mediterranean immigrant in Italy. Will it be for the thought that it should be a port of disembarkation? This is not written in any contract,” he said.

Prime Minister Meloni also spoke about the migrant crisis at the press conference at Palazzo Chigi.

Italy’s request betrays a curious EU dynamic

 “Italy’s request for isolation betrays a curious EU dynamic. We talk about solidarity and sharing. I want to hope that does not happen, it would not be smart” for an EU that must have “its standing”, Meloni underlined.

It is worth putting two numbers together

“I think it is worth putting two numbers together. The Ocean Viking ship is the first ship of an NGO that has ever docked in France with 230 migrants. This has generated a very harsh reaction against Italy which has brought in almost 90 thousand emigrants since the beginning of the year”, said Meloni. “What makes you angry – asked Meloni? -. The fact that Italy must be the only port of disembarkation for migrants in the Mediterranean? This is not there written in no agreement”.

Now three things we can do

Meloni explained what he can do next. “We can decide that we are the only port in Europe but I do not agree, I did not get this mandate from the Italians. Two, I do not think we have to quarrel every time with France, Greece, Spain, Malta… The only common solution, and I’ve talked about it with Macron, Germany and the EU, is the defense of the EU’s external borders, blocking departures, open hotspots. We have spent millions of euros to help Turkey, now we need a European solution”. “I continue to give my willingness to meet and to put solutions on the table because I frankly do not know what they are. We are no longer able to deal with it and we have a mandate to deal with it differently.”

Pope Francis: The European Union must take responsibility for immigrants

Expressing that it is not right and correct to leave the responsibility of all refugees to four countries, the Pope has called on the European Union to produce a just solution for refugees.

Pope Francis, on the return flight from Bahrain to Rome, met with journalists for a press conference. The Pope spoke of the migrants stranded at the port of Catania.

The Pope invites the European Union to collaborate with Italy for the migrant emergency: “You cannot do politics without consent. The European Union cannot leave the responsibility of all migrants arriving on the beaches of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Spain.”