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Parliamentary question - E-006041/2015Parliamentary question
E-006041/2015

Should the European Union continue to concern itself with immigration?

Question for written answer E-006041-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Aymeric Chauprade (NI) , Steeve Briois (NI)

In 2014 Europe was the world’s leading continent in terms of legal and illegal immigration. The EU welcomes more than 1.5 million legal immigrants each year; meanwhile, the number of illegal immigrants residing in the EU stood at 128 725 in the third quarter of 2014 (official Eurostat estimate). Also according to official data, the inflow of detected illegal immigrants was the highest it has ever been in 2014, up by 170% on 2013. This inflow is expected to grow still further in 2015: the first two months alone show figures 200% up 2014.

But cold statistics do not tell the whole story: a whole human drama is unfolding on the back of illegal immigration. On 15 April 2015 another 400 people (or more) died on an attempted crossing to Italy. That makes 900 people who have perished on this route in just two-and-a-half months, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

In the light of the failure of the EU to protect its borders and face up to the human tragedy of illegal immigration, does the Commission feel that the EU is capable of handling immigration problems?