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Kirkhope on the latest Med tragedy: EU needs to work together to find solutions

ECR Group home affairs spokesman Timothy Kirkhope responded to the tragic news that 700 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

Responding to the tragic news that 700 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean, ECR Group home affairs spokesman Timothy Kirkhope said:

“We are all once again shocked by more tragic events in the Mediterranean as we enter a time of year when many try to make this perilous journey.

“Across the EU and further afield, we must work together in finding solutions. I hope that tomorrow’s meeting of foreign ministers can make progress on ways to help reduce these tragedies across a vast and dangerous stretch of water.

“Of course there is no single policy response to this complex situation. Our actions should ask how the initiatives and resources we have in place can be better used, such as Frontex and the European Asylum Support Office. We need to improve our cooperation with, and support for, countries where people are setting off from, including improving policing services and information services to discourage people from falling prey to the traffickers. We also need to process genuine asylum seekers more swiftly in parts of Europe, and return those not granted asylum.

“Those people who prey on migrants, and especially children, for this evil trade must be brought to book with the full force of the law.

“Above all we should not seek to point the finger of blame, but to realise that we must all work together to solve this problem that affects all EU states.”

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