Mediterranean Countries Request Greater Assistance From the EU to Combat Migration

Mediterranean countries are requesting greater assistance from the EU to combat migration.

Ministers responsible for migration and internal affairs from Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Malta have welcomed the EU's preliminary decision to address migration issues but have called for more resources to be allocated to this endeavor.

According to a report by AP, ministers participating in the informal Med 5 group stated that the European Union should take a tough stance on returning illegal migrants to their countries of origin while emphasizing the importance of cooperation with these nations.

Associated Press reported this.

They also urged an additional €2 billion to be directed towards addressing migration, as a significant portion of the current EU budget has been spent on accommodating Ukrainian refugees and addressing the influx of migrants from Belarus.

Dimitris Kairidis, the Greek Minister for Migration, who attended his sixth Med 5 meeting, thanked Spain, which currently holds the EU presidency, for "doing everything possible to achieve a compromise."

In response, Margaritis Schinas, the Vice-President of the European Commission, referenced comments made by Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, who accused Brussels of "legalized violence" against his country due to migration.

"Before talking about violence, he should study the European treaty," he said, adding that decisions regarding migration are made by an enhanced majority. Hungary and Poland took a dissenting stance at the EU summit in Granada, advocating for a stricter approach.

"Personally, I would prefer unanimity," Schinas added. "But you cannot come to an agreement with someone who doesn't want it."

Kairidis further added that Orban serves as an example of what can happen if the EU fails to offer viable solutions. "We find ourselves caught between shouting extremists on the right and naïve people on the left who believe that any attempt to protect borders violates human rights," he said.

The Med 5 nations have agreed on a tough position regarding migrant crossings but have also stressed the importance of cooperation with the countries of migrant origin.

He noted that countries should understand that "if you cooperate with Europe, you win; if you don't, you lose." He referred to this approach as "more for more and less for less."