European Union has been warned over refugees from Italy, Spain, Greece

Malta: The ‘Med 5’ member countries of Southern Europe criticized that if other fellow member countries of the European Union refuse to accept refugees, they cannot be held responsible. A two-day conference of senior ministers from the ‘Med 5’ countries was held in Valletta, the capital of Malta. The ministers present at this conference expressed their deep displeasure over the stance taken by the nations of Northern and Western Europe regarding the refugees. In the wake of the recent shipwreck in Italy, the issue of refugees in Europe has come to the fore again. This meeting held against this background draws attention.

Last week, around 70 migrants died in a shipwreck in the southern Italian province of Calabria. Around 120 to 150 refugees were on board when the accident occurred. These refugees included citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Somalia. While expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pointed out that human trafficking gangs are responsible for such disasters. In 2022, around one and a half-thousand refugees travelling through the Mediterranean were killed in a shipwreck.

Considering this background, the two-day meeting of ‘Med 5’ countries and the displeasure expressed towards other European countries becomes important. In 2021, five Southern European countries came together to form an independent group to tackle the issue of the illegal immigration of refugees aggressively. Ministers and officials of Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta attended this two-day meeting on Friday and Saturday. All these countries expressed deep concern over the illegal influx of refugees while expressing displeasure at the stance taken by other European countries on refugees.

Moreover, the countries that suffer the most from refugees will no longer take more responsibility or accept such decisions. Notis Mitarachi, Greece’s migration minister, warned that other European countries should not teach us a lesson in responsibility unless they accept refugees properly. Spanish ministers criticized the process of accepting refugees by other countries as too slow and too complicated. The Southern European countries also demanded that Frontex, the federation’s border security system, improve its functioning.

Besides, a huge influx of illegal immigrants has started again in countries like Greece, Italy and Spain. In 2022, more than 1 lakh 60 thousand refugees entered Southern European countries using the Mediterranean Sea route alone. Compared to 2021, the number of refugees has increased by more than 30 per cent. This year also, the same trend continues and illegal refugees are entering in large numbers. Therefore, the issue of refugees in Europe is coming to the fore. At the same time, the differences in the federation are also coming to the fore.

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