“The proposal approved by the European Parliament on expanding Frontex’s mandate could provide useful support for our Mare Nostrum operations because at present we have to do both things together”, continued the Minister. “Today we reiterated that our dealings with our neighbours to the east– and most notably the crisis in Ukraine – must not overshadow the priority status given to the Mediterranean and to problems relating to migration flows”.
“Immigration is a burning issuein a number of countries”, concluded the Minister, “Italy first and foremost. And our partners realise this – not just those in the Mediterranean, but our partners throughout the European Union”.
Ukraine – all sides must adopt responsible approach
Turning to the crisis in Ukraine, Minister Mogherini said that “all parties, inside and outside Ukraine, must make every effort to adopt a responsible approach. The aim must be to foster a dialogue that enables the country to have a future – a future as Ukraine – in peace, and to have positive relations with all its neighbours. The priority is to ensure that the channel of dialogue remains open and that the dialogue takes place”, added the Minister, referring to the four-party summit in Geneva tomorrow, 17 April.
“The result will not be a miracle that resolves all the issues. But the very fact that the four parties are sitting down at the negotiating table is a result that until a few weeks ago seemed extremely difficult to achieve. We need to go on working to improve conditions on the ground because any deterioration could cause the crisis to spin out of control. And that is the most dangerous and problematic thing that could happen because the country is deeply divided and unstable. We all know that there is no alternative to a political, negotiated, diplomatic solution”.