European politicians are ignoring illegal migration

THE political elite across Europe has proved utterly inept when it comes to confronting and dealing with the migrant crisis. This is not a problem confined to a single country or being caused by a solitary government. What we are witnessing is a continent-wide refusal to treat the issue of illegal migration with the seriousness it deserves.

The shocking scenes as a boatful of suspected migrants arrived on a tourist beach in Spain are a graphic reminder of the consequences of the EU’s failure to secure its southern border and to discourage migrants from sailing across the Mediterranean.

Then, once migrants have arrived, the authorities are doing far too little to assess, monitor and, where necessary, deport them. What’s happening in Calais, where we have witnessed another summer of chaos, is a prime example.

Less than a year ago the French government razed the notorious Jungle migrant camp in Calais. Instead of following up this success with further policies to bring the situation under control, ministers just reverted to business as usual and now migrants are flocking back to the port. Nothing has changed and no improvement has been achieved.

Besides imposing tougher border checks on harmless British tourists, it is difficult to see what European leaders are doing to remedy this. Despite the clear and obvious anger that people across Europe feel regarding the migrant crisis, the out-of-touch political class just does not seem to care.