European Migration and Home
Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramapoulos on Thursday announced
that the EU will change its rules on migration in 2016.
"In 2016 we'll present a new global package of measures on
the migration and integration front: I'm thinking of a radical
revision of European asylum and 'Dublin'," he said, referring to
the rule that requires migrants to register and seek residency
in the first EU country they enter.
"We've done great work but I'm not satisfied with the
implementation of the EU Plan. The results aren't what were
expected. There needs to be a bigger effort on the part of
member states," he said.
Avramopoulos said the migrant crisis is "putting the heart
of Europe in danger" and that Italy must increase the number of
repatriations of migrants who don't have the requisites
necessary to stay in Europe.
"If Schengen falls, we'll all pay an enormous economic and
political price," he said, referring to the visa waiver program
that abolished passport checks at internal EU borders.
Meanwhile in Italy, Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said
the postponement of a decree to abolish illegal immigration as a
crime is not "sine die", or without a final date.
Orlando said the postponement is linked to "a systematic
rethinking" on immigration, in order to transform the
intervention into a "wider package".
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told
Spanish weekly Vida Nueva that the EU must find "quick and
shared" solutions to the migrant emergency.
"Europe has the necessary judicial, technical, and above
all cultural tools to face the migrant question in a way that's
respectful of the dignity and rights both of its citizens and
those of migrants," Parolin said.
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