One of the issues discussed at the EU Summit taking place in Brussels yesterday is that of illegal immigration.

In the past few months the Mediterranean, the cradle of culture, has turned into an endless graveyard of immigrants. Bodies are washed up on the European shores, mostly in Greece and Italy, demonstrating the complete failure of the European Union, politically and ethically.

For a fairly long time Greece has faced the consequences of European politics, particularly after our country signed the “Dublin II” convention in 2003.

That convention has essentially turned our country into parking lot of illegal immigrants who are trapped here and piled away in inhuman conditions, in the so-called welcome centers.

This is something that is quickly spreading amongst the countries of the European periphery. The countries of the North close their ears to calls for more funds, especially Frontex. They do not want to discuss about establishing a coordinated, cooperative European migration policy.

Nine countries however, mostly around the Mediterranean, aligned with one another at the start of the week when they realized that their problem would be met with well-wishing at the Summit and urged the European Commission to commit and demonstrate greater solidarity to the countries affected by migration.

In Greece the illegal migration problem has triggered great clashes between the political parties in recent years. The government finally put the matter at the top of the agenda in the talks between Prime Minister Samaras and his Italian and Maltese counterparts.

It is becoming clear that the nine countries affected by illegal migration will not be content with a simple announcement, but will demand that all European countries share the burden and that a complete strategy for the repatriation and the protection of EU borders by Frontex.

The countries of the North must finally understand and contribute towards the change in EU immigration policy, just like the USA did when it attracted specialized immigrants with employment opportunities in an effort to boost its economy.

They also have to realize that their policy is constantly empowering the far-right and contributes nothing to growth, which, after all, is what all countries in the old continent want.

TO VIMA