May defies EU demand to open Britain’s doors to Med migrants
THERESA May has rejected demands f r om Brussels f or Britain to take a ‘quota’ of the migrants pouring into Europe across the Mediterranean.
The Royal Navy yesterday finally j oined the rescue operation by deploying a warship and three helicopters to help save people making the perilous journey to Italy.
But the Home Secretary told the Mail any decision to accept migrants should be on a voluntary basis rather than one ordered by the EU.
Mrs May disputed the idea that all the migrants were refugees fleeing conflict zones, arguing instead that many had paid criminal syndicates.
Her comments come as three Merlin helicopters went into action with the flagship HMS Bulwark to seek out boats in EU waters between Libya and Sicily.
The force’s participation had been delayed by protracted negotiations with Italy over where those rescued should be taken. There were fears that thousands could end up on British soil. The devas
‘Stop them starting
their journey’
tating death toll of those heading to Europe soared on Sunday. Up to 40 migrants drowned as they tried to attract the attention of a nearby ship but slipped into the water instead.
Dramatic footage shows survivors fleeing their sinking dinghy and desperately clambering up the side of a cargo ship that came to their aid.
Five bodies were recovered and survivors reported that dozens of others had died. They were taken to the port at Catania in Sicily,
Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads the European Commission, has suggested that unless Europe’s leaders decide to ‘open the door’, the migrants could try to ‘break in through the window’.
Brussels is arguing that, in view of the mass drownings, every country should take a fixed share of migrants. But, following Mr Juncker’s demand, Mrs May told the Mail last Thursday: ‘ Any decisions should be on a voluntary basis. Often, the issue is perceived as being people who are refugees from Syria.
‘Those coming across the Med – they are coming from countries such as Senegal, Eritrea, Sudan.
‘Many will have paid organised crime groups to get them through. It is a different sort of issue from Syrian refugees.
‘If we are really going to stop the people putting their lives in danger by crossing the Med, we need to stop them starting their journey in the first place.’
Tens of thousands of migrants who have managed to reach Italy by boat have already flooded across the border to northern European countries, including the UK.
Under the Dublin Regulation, they should be taken to Italy where they can claim asylum, but once in the country many are fleeing to other EU countries with the help of people-smugglers.
David Cameron announced the UK deployment to help tackle a crisis that cost 800 lives last month. But HMS Bulwark spent the weekend stuck in port while other European ships rescued 7,000 people. They were from countries including Ghana, Gambia, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
France has urged hundreds of migrants in Calais to give up trying to sneak into Britain and seek asylum in France instead.
Following a visit to a shanty town outside the Channel port, interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, said: ‘They should not try to cross illegally into Britain.
‘We must make them understand clearly that asylum in France offers the best chance for them.’