Copanello, 22/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - By focusing some of its work on European immigration policy, the Committee of the Regions office, which met in Calabria on Friday evening, heard the alarm go off. In one of its recommendations it asserted, "Local and regional organisations have to be completely involved in the definition, executions and follow-up of common policy on returns"…these organisations should also be allowed to contribute to the elaboration of national action plans".
The committee underlines that, "local and regional authorities are directly confronted with the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and have to offer services to them, paying particular attention to the limited financial means at their disposal". On this point, Michel Delebarre, Mayor of Dunkirk (PS) gave an example of his experience: welcoming refugees from the whole world who wanted to go from France to England, "the Sangate camp (near Calais in the north of France) closed a few months ago following the decision of the Minister of the Interior, Niolas Sarkozy. I think they needed to close it, as living conditions were appalling. It was planned to accommodate 600 but ended up accommodating almost 2000, including those as young as fifteen". But this closure has solved nothing, Mr Delebarre explained, "There has certainly been a psychological effect on some of the networks. And the cooperation of the Franco-British police has improved. But the source has not gone away People are still coming. And we have to support them. One forgets that immigration cannot just be seen as waves, numbers but also as human beings who in the sense of the European Charter of Human Rights, have to be welcomed. For Europe to be able to provide the means to local groups to deal with immigration in their areas, it is also necessary to strengthen the countries of origin and help them develop".
The Under Secretary of State to the Minister of the Interior, Antonio D'Ali said that, "We cannot prevent some of the world's poorest countries emigrating to the richest countries. It's only normal. The task of the government is to manage it. the final objective has to be free movement for all and good integration in all countries of the world". Repeating what Italy had said, "help immigration policy evolve", he added that, "policy and objectives have already been identified during the Greek presidency. They will then make up part of European policy heritage". Giusseppe Chiaravallotti, President of the Calabria region '(Pole of Freedoms), stressed that, "emigration is positive not only for those who leave but also for receiving countries. He added that, "without immigration, Italy's population would fall to 41 million in 2050 - and our social system in general - it is usually immigrants who look after children and old people".
Mr D'Ali considered that, "the 140 million in the budget (for border control policies) was insufficient". From 2006, more money will be needed for this policy. He also reasserted the fact that the Presidency hoped "to obtain during the fourth quarter of the year, a political agreement on the 'asylum and non-Community free movement directives". The Committee of the Regions was, however, not unanimous about a last proposal. It is necessary, "to carefully asses the impact, in economic terms, of an open immigration policy to workers from third countries on local, regional and national levels. The Committee believes that, "Community regulation must be completed through action aiming at social integration of immigrants via specific development programmes specially designed for the regions and local councils".