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"Immediate action needed" in Mediterranean crisis: CoE Parliamentary Assembly

Xinhua, April 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for "urgent and concerted action" in the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea.

"Every week, hundreds of people are losing their lives," said Thierry Mariani (France, European People's Party), who prepared the draft resolution in the PACE Committee on Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons.

Passing with 88 votes in favor, one against and 12 abstentions, the resolution was prepared following news of up to 800 people having lost their lives early Sunday when a migrant ship capsized south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Members speaking during the urgent debate that preceded the adoption highlighted the desperate nature and the humanitarian character of the crisis.

"Our Mediterranean is becoming a watery grave," said Dimitris Vitsas (Greece), speaking on behalf of the United European Left political group.

Estimates cited by Mariani's explanatory memorandum for the resolution show that as many as 1,500 migrants have lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since the beginning of 2015, which is thought to be an increase from this period last year.

"We are witnessing the worst human tragedy since WWII," said Michele Nicoletti (Italy) on behalf of the Socialist political group.

To provoke action, the PACE resolution puts particular pressure on the European Union (EU), calling on EU member states to enhance co-operation, and to provide coordinated assistance to search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

It also asks EU member states to provide more legal options for migration and asylum seekers.

The resolution asks the EU to review the Dublin Regulation, which came into force on July 19, 2013, and concentrates the most responsibility for asylum seekers on the countries of entry, leaving a more significant burden on countries with high levels of migration such as Italy, Greece, Malta and Spain. Enditem