No region prosperity if Mediterranean remains ‘sea of death’ – Letta

Former Italian premier Enrico Letta says Europe is afflicted by ‘Euro-Med fatigue’.

Former Italian Premier Enrico Letta
Former Italian Premier Enrico Letta

There will be no prosperity in the region if the Mediterranean remains a sea of death, Enrico Letta said.

Addressing the Economist business roundtable being organised in Malta, the former Italian prime minister irregular migration was one of three main conditions which Europe had to address if it wanted to grow.

"2013 was a very difficult year and 2014 will probably be as much. As the EU leaders meet in June for the European Council summit, they have to focus the discussion on the Dublin Treaty. It is of absolute importance that the 38 measures proposed by the task force are implemented," he said.

In December, a task force of EU member states identified a slew of actions to address the flow of migration from Africa into Europe, which will include both repatriating failed asylum seekers as well as "outsourcing" the processing of their claims in transit countries.

The establishment of the Task Force Mediterranean (TFM) was a proposal made at a meeting of European home affairs ministers in October, following the tragedies in the Mediterranean that saw hundreds of migrants and refugees drown at sea.

Letta argued that EU leaders could no longer delay addressing the matter effectively: "There will be no prosperity in the area if the Mediterranean remain a sea of death."

He insisted that a general alliance was required and migration flows should be on top of the EU's agenda.

Letta, who succeeded Mario Monti as Italy's prime minister, said that while his predecessor spoke of 'market fatigue' he was more convinced it was a 'Euro-Med fatigue'.

"Talks about such fatigue date back to 1995. But today we are living a fully-fledged euro-med fatigue. Placing the Mediterranean on top of agenda is important as focusing on growth."

He said the frustration was not only down to economic crisis suffered but also because of the instability in the northern part of Africa and the Middle East.

"Instead of an opportunity, the Mediterranean was being viewed as a problem. And for countries like Malta and Italy that's a negative precondition. The crisis created an explosive mix and the Mediterranean automatically became the last priority."

Letta said political stability was needed to overcome instability and civil wars, essential to have stability in the northern part of the Mediterranean.

Turning to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Letta called on his friend "to take leadership" on euro-med relations: "Malta is the natural place where we can easily discuss the future of the region."