The words of the Pope, who expressed his "sorrow" for the massacre of migrants, which took place in Steccato di Cutro, left their mark. The Pontiff once again launched an appeal "so that similar tragedies are not repeated" and "human traffickers are stopped". Words that the government takes up and relaunches, trying to accelerate the measures to be put in place to try to manage the complex migration issue. "Let us make our own" the words of the Pope - says Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - and we will do everything to "fight" smugglers, he says on behalf of the government. A measure that will involve several ministries under the direction of the Prime Minister is being studied, starting from the tightening of penalties for human traffickers to the simplification of reception mechanisms, passing through the institution of international protection, to new measures relating to repatriations.
Among the hypotheses also that of a new redetermination of the regular flows of migrants, thanks to cooperation agreements with the countries of origin called to combat irregular departures. At the moment, however, these are only hypotheses pending a better definition of any measures to be taken. After the Dpcm of late December on flows, which sets a maximum quota of entries equal to 82,705 foreigners, of which 44,000 for seasonal work reasons, and the NGO decree, there could be more severe penalties for smugglers and the possible idea of setting an annual quota for the entry of one hundred thousand legal foreigners, which are then placed according to the needs of the labour market in the various sectors.
The issue, of course, will be addressed in the Council of Ministers scheduled in Cutro and announced by Prime Minister Meloni, which should be held within the week. Already on March 7, however, the owner of the Interior Ministry Matteo Piantedosi will again address the immigration issue by returning to the story of Cutro with an urgent information from the government in the classroom of Montecitorio to reconstruct the dynamics of the intervention of the Guardia di Finanza and the role of the Coast Guard after Frontex had sighted, the evening before the shipwreck, the boat in the Ionian Sea "but without launching any alarm", As pointed out by the government.
It is not excluded a confrontation before the information, according to some press rumors, between the premier and the owner of the Interior Ministry, on the management of the affair and the statements ("Despair can never justify trips that put one's children in danger") that have aroused various political reactions, starting with the request for resignation by the new secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein.
An important appointment for the government, regarding the essential collaboration within the EU, will be the one scheduled in Brussels on March 9, in view of the meeting of the European Council of Interior Ministers. Already at the summit of the Med5 countries, which includes Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Spain, a clear document signed by the five Member States was produced: countering irregular departures of boats, strengthening returns, increasing border surveillance with Frontex and - to the States that suffer greater migratory pressure - having border procedures decide autonomously. Therefore, a decisive contrast to irregular immigration and departures from the countries of origin that takes place through a strengthening of bilateral relations and a strengthening of repatriations.
ANSA/CARMELO IMBESI
The wreck of the boat on the beach of Cutro, photographed on March 1
The agreement on which Brussels is aiming provides for the stipulation of agreements with the countries of origin, privileging with reward mechanisms (for example an increase in quotas on regular flows) those who are more virtuous, or those who fight illegal departures from their territories more effectively. A practical example concerns operations such as the one carried out by the Tunisian police forces who, in recent days, have arrested 65 people from various regions of sub-Saharan Africa, who were found to be in an "irregular" condition after illegally entering Tunisia.
Moreover, according to the MED5 countries, it is precisely the Member States with the greatest irregular migratory pressures that should benefit from a derogation from the mandatory border procedure and "be able to decide on the application of these procedures based on their capacity and return perspective". Regarding the relocation of migrants, Brussels will also be strongly asked to "establish a permanent and mandatory solidarity mechanism that takes into account the real needs of member states".
"The migration emergency, from the various crisis hot fronts, is the biggest problemwe will face in the coming years, perhaps decades. And Italy, beyond speculation or internal political controversy, cannot do it alone. We have saved thousands and thousands of lives, and all Italians know it, but unfortunately we do not always succeed. Among the thousands of desperate people who rely on criminal smugglers, someone, unfortunately, does not make it. As in the shipwreck of Steccato di Cutro", the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. On the shipwreck, he explains, "the judiciary will do its job, we will see if there are responsibilities or if, as I believe, it was a tragic, terrible fatality", while on the Council of Ministers in Crotone the head of the Foreign Ministry confirms that "we will do it this week, also to give a signal, but no one has a magic wand".