Eleven days after the dramatic sinking of a boat from Turkey, overloaded with migrants mostly from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, the Italian government is meeting in the Council of Ministers, this Thursday, March 9 in the afternoon, in Cutro, a seaside resort near the site of the shipwreck which caused the death of at least 72 people, including many children.
The decision to hold a Council of Ministers in Cutro seems to be an almost forced choice for the right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni, which has been conspicuous by its absence so far in this seaside resort in southern Italy. Only the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, went there, shortly after sinkingbut without any word of comfort for the relatives of the victims.
In comparison, the head of state, Sergio Mattarella, and representatives of the opposition, including Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein, traveled as a sign of solidarity with the families of the victims. The President of the Council therefore hopes to put an end to the controversy over her absence. But also on the words of the Minister of the Interior who, on his return from Calabria, had declared: “ Desperation should never justify travel conditions that endanger the lives of one’s own children “.
Increase in entry quotas
Several measures on legal and illegal immigration should be adopted on the occasion of this exceptional Council. Tougher penalties are planned for smugglers tried in Italy. Currently, they are sentenced to up to 5 years in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros. There is also talk of strengthening the police units responsible for tracking them down.
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Regarding the reception of non-EU workers, the government should increase the entry quotas for 2023. It should also strengthen the humanitarian corridors, especially since the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised 500 million euros for the redistribution of migrants in Europe, thanks to the humanitarian corridors.
Migration policy a little more humane
Furthermore, the procedures for the recognition of the right to asylum should be simplified. The improvement of reception and integration centers for legal migrants will also be on the agenda. But it will also be a question of the expulsions of clandestine migrants so that they materialize more easily.
The dramatic shipwreck in Calabria could influence decisions in favor of a slightly more humane migration policy, even if it will be necessary to wait for the end of the Council of Ministers to confirm it. We must not forget that two investigations were opened to answer the following question: why the Italian coast guard did not receive an order to rescue the migrants on the night of February 25 to 26 ?
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