BRUSSELS, 5th March
In order to assess the situation of migrants and refugees in Italy, MEP Željana Zovko, as part of a delegation of the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, went on an official mission to Rome from 27 February till 1 March.
Ms Zovko and the other MEPs had the opportunity to have a constructive exchange of views with Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary for relations with States of the Holy See. They discussed different aspects of migration and talked about the recent statements of the Pope to focus on the duty of integration.
Besides that, Ms Zovko was especially impressed by the work of the Sant Egidio Church Organisation that provides safe humanitarian corridors for the most vulnerable refugees, thus fights the trafficking of migrants. This organisation also helps the integration process for those migrants by providing education and encouraging the acceptance of cultural values while living in the EU. The Parliamentarian delegation paid tribute to the remarkable work of the civil society organisations providing vital support to migrants and refugees in an increasingly challenging environment.
Furthermore, the delegation had meetings with representatives of the Italian authorities such as the Vice-minister for Foreign Affairs Emanuela Del Re – this meeting was chaired by Ms Zovko – as well as Interior Ministry high official Prefetto Gerarda Pantaloni and the Chairs of the committees of foreign affairs, migration and human rights of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
The other members of the delegation were the president of the subcommittee Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D), who also led the mission, the Swedish Soraya Post (S&D), the German Barbara Lochbihler (Greens) and the British Baroness Nosheena Mobarik (ECR).