Procaccini (FdI): «No retaliation for the Spain case. The Pact on migration and asylum? It's the way»

Italian Member of the European Parliament Nicola Procaccini has strongly refuted what he calls "political scams" from both the left and within Italy, accusing them of falsely linking the suspension of Schengen border controls with Spain to the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact. Procaccini, a co-president of the European Conservatives group, expressed indignation at what he perceives as an "absurd narrative" that conflates unrelated issues.

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Be it out of conscious intent to lie or out of ignorance, it is nonetheless serious.

He explained that the temporary suspension of Schengen, a measure he noted has been implemented by various countries, including France, numerous times for different reasons, was a response to specific and serious concerns. "The risks of arrivals of clandestine individuals, perhaps even infiltrators with terrorist aims, are real," Procaccini stated, emphasizing that Italy merely tightened controls on non-European arrivals from Spain. He stressed that requests for the transfer of migrants under the Dublin Regulation are an entirely separate matter.

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There is no connection whatsoever. The suspension of Schengen... depends on a specific and serious fact.

Procaccini addressed the impression that Italy might be disadvantaged by the new pact, particularly following Germany's official announcement of migrant transfers. He asserted that this is not the case, highlighting that the numbers involved are "very contained." He also pointed out that the new pact, which Italy strongly advocated for, clearly outlines new rules. For political refugees, who constitute about 15-20% of the total, redistribution will be based on country size. However, countries under migratory pressure, such as Italy, Spain, Greece, and Cyprus, are exempt from mandatory reception obligations.

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The risks of arrivals of clandestine individuals, perhaps even infiltrators with terrorist aims, are real, and we have only tightened controls on non-European arrivals from Spain.

"For the others, from now on the rules will change, and we hope the immigration system will change, in a much more civil and even more humane way than it has been so far," Procaccini said. He believes the new pact is "the right path," making it significantly more difficult for economic migrants, as opposed to asylum seekers with legitimate rights, to move clandestinely within Europe. He anticipates that the full impact of the pact will become evident over the coming years.

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The numbers are very contained, and the new Pact that we strongly wanted is very clear.