The last step for the Pact for the Immigration and Asylum was done with the agreement in Brussels, emphasizes the vice-president of the European Commission Margaritis Schinasestimating that by the beginning of the new year there will be its ratification.

Speaking to APE – MPE, Mr. Schinas states that “for the first time, Europe is sending a message to everyone – to the traffickers, to the neighbors, that we are putting a bottom to the barrel, and I believe that by the beginning of the year we will have the official sanction of this of the agreement”.

The vice-president of the Commission is in Thessaloniki, where the crucial Summit of member states of the MED5 group on immigration is being held today, which is taking place at a “happy moment”, as he says, just a few days after the Brussels agreement.

Mr. Schinas welcomes the attitude of Italy “without whose responsible attitude we would not have the agreement” in Brussels, through which he estimates that the message was sent that after decades, Europe can make decisions on the major issues that concern them the Europeans.

He considers rapid procedures at the borders to be a key part of the success of the new system and expresses the belief that Europe is now ready to meet the demands. “We are already very well prepared because we have built new reception and identification centers all over the perimeter of the EU, with special pre-departure zones for returnees. We no longer have Moles in Europe. This Commission put an end to the shame of Moria,” he underlines, while characterizing the reinstatement of the proposal for a naval blockade of northern Africa as impractical and eccentric.

As far as the relations between the EU and Turkey in the immigration field are concerned, Mr. Schinas says that “we want to enter the era of cooperation again” explaining that “and in Europe there is a will to support Turkey in this effort, which it’s a win-win situation’ for both sides.

The vice-president of the Commission also talks about relations with Africa, pointing out that the model of cooperation should change and make it clear to the countries of the region from where many immigrants start their journey to Europe, that “as long as you cooperate, so much to gain from Europe. As long as you do not cooperate, it is by no means certain that our development assistance will continue at the same level.”

He also talks about the EU Talent Pool, the big package for legal immigration that will be presented in mid-November, which he estimates will help both society and the European economy, with one condition, however: that those who come to Europe within this scheme, they must accept without any reservations the values ​​and principles that govern society and the way of life in Europe.