“A meeting of the Europe and North Africa contact group: only the common commitment can allow migratory flows in the Mediterranean to be regulated”. These are the words of Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni who attended the meeting of the contact group between European and North African countries and who today received the Premier of Libya's Government of National Accord, Fayez Al Serraj, at Palazzo Chigi.
The phenomenon of migratory flows from Africa to Europe "will not end by magic overnight, those who promise miracles risk confusing our public opinion", said the Prime Minister asking “long-term work” and a common EU commitment. “The EU must simultaneously take on the commitment of both welcoming those who have the right and repatriation for those who do not have the right, not only geography decides who is committed to a common ground”.
For this reason, today's meeting aims to reach an agreement with the African state that provides for "joint, rapid and decisive actions to prevent thousands of people from risking their lives to reach North Africa and Europe".
An important step forward in this context came during the meeting of Interior Ministers of the Mediterranean route (Europe, Africa, with the presence of Switzerland) chaired by Marco Minniti during which the list of "needs" that the Libyan government has presented to our country to make the agreement signed on 2 February operational.
The list contains precise requests, aimed at controlling migratory flows and stopping departures. Among them are ships, helicopters, off-road vehicles, cars, ambulances, operating rooms, equipment for una expenditure estimated at 800 million euros which are added to the 200 already allocated by Brussels. Despite this, the amount is still not sufficient and the contribution from the fund for Africa already foreseen in the agreement of 2 February will be needed.
To arrive at a solution, it will be essential to obtain the guarantee of international cooperation, but also to try to strengthen the Serraj government, which is currently grappling with very serious difficulties.
Going back to the practical details of the agreement, it also provides for "training, equipping and supporting the Libyan coast guard". 10 search and rescue vessels and 10 patrol boats will be needed to be used to carry out checks along the coast and avoid leaving the Alps. According to the first rumors, the first three boats will be delivered in June.
And again, the requests include 4 helicopters that will carry out operations against the organizations that manage the trips, 24 inflatable boats, 10 ambulances, 30 jeeps, 15 cars, 30 Turaya satellite phones, diving suits, oxygen tanks, day binoculars and nocturnal. The Italian police forces will take care of the training of local policemen and men of the Coast Guard.
