(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz on Thursday described the Mediterranean as "the world's deadliest border" and called for urgent measures to save migrants' lives.
"Yet another deadly shipwreck last Sunday with 800 refugees believed drowned has shocked us all deeply. These refugees left their homes because of war and persecution, famine and poverty," he told EU leaders who are holding a special summit to discuss migration.
"The lack of a truly European asylum and migration policy is now turning the Mediterranean into a graveyard," he lamented.
"Our immediate priority must be to save lives at sea. When people are dying right in front of our eyes, human decency demands that we hold out our hand to save them," he said.
He noted that last year 626 thousand asylum applications were received by EU member states. "Some say this is too much. But less than half of these applications are granted. And if you compare this to 507 million Europeans, it becomes more manageable. And just take a look at what our neighbouring countries are doing: Only five per cent of Syrian refugees have found shelter in Europe whereas Lebanon, a country of five million, is hosting a million Syrians," said Schulz. "Faced with humanitarian crises of unprecedented magnitude in our direct neighbourhood - from Libya to Ukraine, from Gaza to Iraq and Syria - due to civil wars, conflicts and failed states, we are called upon to do more," he said.
Schulz called on the EU to create more avenues for migrants to enter legally. "Europe has always been and will continue to be a continent of immigration and emigration. We have to face up to this reality ," he said and urged closer cooperation with countries of origin and transit.
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