Brussels, 27/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 26 April, several MEPs were critical of the positions of France and Italy on immigration and strengthening governance of the Schengen area addressed that same day by Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi to the Commission and European Council. Hélène Flautre and Eva Joly of the Greens/EFA Group say in a press release that putting internal EU borders back in place is “not a solution”. Instead, they say, of “re-thinking Schengen by proposing coercive measures”, the EU must give itself the means to take in exceptional immigration - immigration which, they suggest “is an opportunity for our democracy and our economy”. The two believe that “once again it is to be regretted that the only response from some member states is to beef up the activities of the Frontex agency. These measures are nothing short of a reversal of the ambitions of a Europe of solidarity”. They say that member states should, on the contrary, declare “an immediate moratorium on sending Tunisians back to Tunisia”, grant “exceptional right to remain to the Tunisians already in France and Italy” and implement “the facility that allows the temporary protection provided for in the directive of 20 July 2001to be granted to all those have a right to it”.
Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France), European Parliament rapporteur on asylum described the summit as a “comedia dell'arte” and “grotesque confirmation that, after several weeks of stand-off between Rome and Paris, the two leaders are looking for any way of getting out of the mess they have got themselves into”. She added in a press release that “everything they decided is for the benefit of their extreme right-wing electors”. She said that “altering the Schengen agreements in the way suggested by the two leaders bears witness either to total ignorance of European law or their obstinate refusal to develop European solutions, and even invalidate them”, given that the agreements already make provision for adjustments in the event of exceptional circumstances. “We will see if 25,000 migrants constitute 'exceptional circumstances' or unmanageable disturbance of public order that could threaten the foundations of European construction”, Guillaume went on to say. (S.P./transl.rt)