Group 5 + 5 supports greater cooperation to stop immigration in the Mediterranean
Those responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Group 5 + 5 (Malta, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania) today supported in Valletta increase cooperation in the Mediterranean to stop immigration to Europe and increase security.
The fifteenth informal meeting of foreign ministers of the 5 + 5 dialogue group of Mediterranean countries was held in Malta for two days under the theme "Working together: a sustainable future for the western Mediterranean".
She has been assisted by the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell; from Malta, Carmelo Abela; France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Portugal, Augusto Santos Silva; and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Emanuela Claudia Del Re.
In addition, representatives of Foreign Affairs of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania and the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, as an observer, among others.
Mogherini has called for cooperation to face the challenges of the Mediterranean area, not only migration but also climate change or economic development, which he has said are "vital interests" for the entire continent.
He stressed that "what happens in the Mediterranean" affects all the member countries of the EU and said that "these problems can only be addressed through cooperation".
He acknowledged that "inequalities have increased among social groups" in recent years as a result of the crises that have suffered "the two shores of the Mediterranean" and this has led to migratory flows.
The Maltese Foreign Minister, Carmelo Abela, considered that to solve the problem of migration from Africa we must avoid "the speech against immigrants as a threat or as a source of fear".
However, his Government, together with the Italian Government, have prevented in recent months the boats of NGOs disembarking migrants rescued at sea in their ports.
Abela defended to increase the formation of the Libyan coastguards so that they contain the exits towards Europe and guarantee that the ONG "respect the norms and the international laws" in the sea.
For his part, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, said today in a telephone interview with Efe that the closure of ports is not the solution for illegal immigration and that the EU should seek a mechanism so that people do not repeat themselves. rescued by ships in the Mediterranean that spend weeks without being able to disembark.
"It's about seeing if we are all capable of finding a method that is objective, automatic, of immediate application and without much discussion every time we are dealing with a particular case," he said.
For the Foreign Minister of Libya, Mohamed Taher Syala, the solution is to invest in Africa to "promote development and create employment" and celebrated that the country "has reduced the outflow of immigrants from its coasts by 80% in the last year, but he still needs help to do more. "
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently announced that 83 immigrants and refugees have died in their attempt to reach Europe across the Mediterranean.
