The European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg heard on Wednesday different approaches for addressing the migrant crisis in the EU, with the Commission proposing measures following the deadliest shipwreck in the Mediterranean on June 14 in Pylos. In her intervention at the plenary, MEP Eleni Stavrou (Group of the European People's Party, Democratic Rally Party DISY), said that Cyprus received 50% of the immigrants who arrived in Europe in 2022, adding that in the last six years, Cyprus has had the highest number of asylum applications, in relation to its population, with an increase of 490% since 2016, that is equal to 9% of its entire population. "The organized invasion of thousands of illegal immigrants into the European territory of our countries is the result of the instrumentalization of immigration, mainly by Turkey, which exploits the illegal occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus," she noted, underlining the need for border protection. She also said that immediate and bold actions are needed so as to protect the demographic character of the countries and the sense of security of citizens and help, to the maximum extent possible, the refugees who really need help. Loucas Fourlas, (Group of the European People's Party, Democratic Rally Party DISY) told CNA that in his interventions in the plenary and the EP competent Committee, he pointed out that it is unfair that the burden falls on the shoulders of the frontline member states and some other member states are either indifferent or pay a sum for every immigrant they refuse to welcome in their territory and are exempted from every responsibility. He noted that the burden on countries like Cyprus "is unbearable and things are now out of control". He referred to the effects on the demographic character of the country, as well as the issues that arise due to the fact that the hot spot centers are overcrowded. Fourlas stressed the need for burden sharing and for cooperation with third countries. He spoke about the instrumentalisation of the problem by Turkey which uses the Green Line Regulation in Cyprus to facilitate the movement of third country nationals to the EU. Speaking to CNA MEP Giorgos Georgiou (Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL, AKEL Progressive Party of Working People - Left - New Forces) said that since 2014, more than 27,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, the most dangerous migration route in the world. He said that the recent agreement of the Ministers of Internal Affairs on the immigration issue is, once again, a fundamental break with the principles of democracy and the rule of law". Georgiou underlined that the competent Ministers ignored the enormous problem faced by the member states receiving immigrants, such as Cyprus, with the countries of the rich North paying 20 thousand euros for each asylum seeker and the countries of the South to become "warehouses of people". Instead, he said, Ministers should have replaced the Dublin Regulation "with a binding system of allocation of refugees to all EU member states, according to each state's capacity". MEP Niyazi Kizilyuerk (Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL, AKEL Progressive Party of Working People - Left - New Forces), noted that with the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, first host member states such as Greece, Italy and Cyprus cannot hope for real solidarity. "On the contrary, a logic has prevailed that allows those member states that do not wish to participate in dealing with the refugee crisis, to pay for the repatriation of these people back to the countries where they came from," he added. He pointed out that the Pact is not a serious and sustainable solution to the refugee issue. "A new asylum policy must provide safe-legal pathways, fast and efficient processing of asylum applications, resettlement and social integration of refugees, but also real and practical support for the countries of origin of refugees to end the war, the violence, poverty and climate change, reasons that are considered as the main causes of refugees and immigration", he said. MEP Costas Mavrides, (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, DIKO Democratic Party) told CNA that immigration is the responsibility of the member states and not of the EU, while for the refugee issue obligations arise within the framework of the EU and International Conventions. Referring to the issue of trafficking rings, he said that it is an "industry of exploitation", which includes "undercover NGOs, lawyers, exploiters of labor under conditions of slavery and others". Political courage is needed, he stressed, in order to fix the problem against the interests that exist. He said that the instrumentalized immigration and illegal entry through the occupied territories of Cyprus requires measures "adapted to the Cypriot reality and not theories". He also noted that asylum should be given to those at risk and at the same time protect the demography and the structure of the Cypriot society. MEP Demetris Papadakis (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Movement for Social Democracy EDEK) noted that the EU follows the logic of "providing a painkiller to deal with a serious disease that needs comprehensive treatment", as far as immigration is concerned. He said that the European Parliament has put forward several recommendations to address and best manage this inevitable influx of people to European states," adding that "if these recommendations were adopted by the EU, I believe that the problem to a large extent could be addressed and better managed". He also pointed out that migration is not something that will disappear in the future, as its causes, such as wars, terrorism, climate change, extreme poverty and the violation of human rights will not disappear either.
Source: Cyprus News Agency