“We need to set records straight, like it did the Australian government, stop encouraging a future migration by not sending undocumented migrants back to their counties of origin,” Mariani, who is also a former French Transport Minister, told Sputnik, explaining that such a position would eventually discourage attempts to smuggle refugees and economic migrants to Europe.
Europe is experiencing a massive migration crisis, and the situation is deteriorating while no practical, unified solution has yet been found by the European Union.
Mariani suggests adopting a new migration policy, similar to the Australian approach, whereby the European Union would assist migrants who met specific criteria to move to specially chosen areas outside the Schengen zone.
“The crisis won’t be solved until the EU to adopt a clear immigration policy” providing for the mandatory clarification of the legitimacy of their presence in the European Union, the French lawmaker concluded.
Mariani's support for the border control initiatives introduced by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott runs counter to the growing criticism from human rights advocates and the international community of Australia's treatment of asylum seekers who wish to apply for refuge in the country. The Australian offshore detention camps on the islands of Manus in Papua New Guinea and Nauru have been criticized by rights groups for their inhumane living conditions.
