A North West MEP ‘deplores’ the government for responding ‘painfully slowly’ to the refugee crisis while lives ‘continue to be lost’, after EU minsters agree on disputed relocation plan.
Julie Ward MEP also believes that national governments are to blame for thousands of deaths and suffering, rather than Europe, after their inability to make ‘clearer, bolder decisions’.
The quota will see the redistribution of 120,000 refugees across the continent over the next two years, seeing migrants moved from Italy, Greece and Hungary to other European countries.
The UN says close to 480,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year, and are now reaching European shores at a rate of 6,000 a day.
Julie Ward has welcomed the relocation plan as a ‘good first step’ to solve the refugee crisis – one that has been ‘long overdue’.
She told MM: “The relocation plan, approved by EU government ministers, will at last give a humane European response to the ongoing crisis, and it is a good first step.
“However, these governments have responded painfully slowly, while many lives have been lost, and suffering extended.
“I deplore our own government inaction on this subject, until public opinion swayed it, and its continued refusal to take a European approach to what is clearly a European problem.
“The establishment of asylum hotspots on refugee’s routes has been long overdue, and much more must be done at a European level on common asylum procedures.”
The quota system will divide the refugees to member states based on population, gross domestic product, average number of asylum applications and ratio of refugees to one million inhabitants, as well as the unemployment rate in the country.
The quota was approved by a ‘large majority’ although this was against the wishes of central and eastern European countries.
Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary voted against accepting mandatory quotas, while Finland abstained from the vote.
The scheme plans to take 66,000 migrants from Greece and Italy, and a further 54,000 will be reallocated among Greece and Italy, or other countries such as Croatia and Austria.
Ms Ward added that governments must be ‘guided by compassion’ with a long-term vision of the situation, and urges the public to continue to set the agenda for their countries.
She said: “As Jeremy Corbyn said in his first speech as Labour leader, ‘we are one world’, and we must be guided by compassion, and a resolute long-term view of this situation, which will remain with us for some time, and have long-lasting impacts.
“It is often easy for the media to blame “Europe”, but it is national governments, which must take clearer, bolder decisions, as part of the European process.
“We must remember that 70 years ago, millions of Europeans were refugees fleeing conflict in much the same way.
“Citizens from across Europe have gotten involved, showing solidarity, and taking action to help refugees, welcome them, and make their voices heard in the most inspiring ways.
“Citizens who are appalled by the ongoing crisis must remain active, determined, and vocal, and set the public agenda. I applaud these active citizens’ inspired, compassionate, practical and quick response.”
Image courtesy of RenovateEurope via. YouTube, with thanks.
