Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus on Saturday condemned the European Union’s migrant flow management system, which leaves them bearing the brunt of the burden, and asked the European Commission to intervene, AFP reported, Agerpres reported.

These four states “as countries of first entry into Europe (…) are able to bear the heaviest burden in managing migration flows in the Mediterranean, in full compliance with international obligations and EU rules,” it is mentioned. in a joint statement by the ministers of the interior of Italy, Malta and Cyprus, as well as the Greek minister of migration, issued in Rome.

Recalling the commitments made by the EU in June in Luxembourg when setting up a “voluntary solidarity mechanism” which was to allow the resettlement of 10,000 people in the first year to countries other than the countries of first entry, the four ministers complained that the result was “disappointing “.

“The mechanism is slow,” and the 10,000 figure that was not reached “represents only a very small fraction of the actual number of irregular arrivals during this year,” the statement added.

These countries, together with Spain, are the most prone to the arrival of migrants, and for many years have advocated a mandatory transfer system.

The four ministers condemn the idea that “countries of first entry can be the only possible European disembarkation points for illegal immigrants” and point the finger at humanitarian NGOs whose “private ships operate in complete autonomy vis-à-vis the authorities of competent states”. “.

They demand that each state flying the flag of the humanitarian vessel “effectively exercises jurisdiction and control” over the latter.

Ships flying the French, Norwegian or German flags regularly dock in Italy, much to the chagrin of the peninsula’s authorities, who have unsuccessfully demanded that the countries whose flags the ships fly take the migrants.

Pending a new agreement on migrant management “that is effective, fair and permanent”, the four ministers believe that “a serious discussion on how these operations can be better coordinated in the Mediterranean” is urgent and necessary to ensure that NGO ships respect rules, and the states under whose flag they fly “undertake obligations in accordance with their international obligations.”

“We ask the European Commission and the presidency to take the necessary measures to start such a discussion,” the statement concludes.