The former president of the European Commission Durão Barroso stated today that Europe has the “humanitarian obligation” of receiving refugees and should have its doors “open, but not wide open”.

“We have to avoid demagogy. Europe should have the doors open, but not wide open”, said Durão Barroso, reinforcing that the “uncontrollable movement of immigrants” is generating “very concerning” xenophobic movements in many countries.

The also former-prime-minister of Portugal, that spoke aside the from the 1st EurAfrican Forum that takes place today in Cascais, highlighted that the question must be managed “with balance”, considering that the solution is to dialogue with the African countries, but also to share the responsibilities between Europeans.  

“We have to reach to an agreement between us, dividing the responsibility and making an effective control, but also humanitarian of our borders”, noted.

Durão Barroso said that it is necessary to give more support to the development of the African countries. “Don’t have illusions. It is impossible to fully control the migration flows, the long-term solution is on the development of Africa”, stated the formerly European responsible, adding that it is “a humanitarian obligation to receive these people”. Questioned about the decision related to the migration policies of the last European council, Durão Barroso stated that he doesn’t know the details of these proposals and considered that that was “a necessary step, but more is needed”.

The European Union leaders reached on the morning of June 29 to an agreement for the creation about regional landing platforms of migrants and of controlled centers on the member-states as well as the reinforce of the control of the external borders.

The former president of the European Commission and non-executive president of Goldman Sachs is the Chairman of the EurAfrican forum, an event organized by the Portuguese Diaspora Council, that pretends to bring closer Africa and Europe and strengthen the confidence between both continents.

 

By Lusa, July 2018