Mr. Ted Neville:

Reverting to the Chairman's question, which was well put and recognised the reality of the situation - that there is and will continue to be a relentless and inexorable migration of populations from continents that are no longer economically sustainable, such as Africa, and where there is large population growth - that is the reason. Africa cannot sustain its population properly. Europe is seen as Valhalla, a place of refuge, but there is a limit on the number of people it can hold and on what valuable and productive inputs people can make in a European industrialised situation.

As to people drowning at sea, the Chairman described a human tragedy. It is compounded by the fact that European governments have sent out a signal that people should keep coming and that they will be placed on Lampedusa and brought to Italy and Germany. The European Parliament suggested that camps should be set up on the north African coast, with the agreement of the Governments of Libya, Tunisia and so on, that would receive people on the African continent and try to support and relocate them within Africa. By not doing so, governments have made the Mediterranean a fortress to cross. It is dangerous. The humanitarian tragedy is inexorable and will increase as long as Europe continues to receive people. We have to rescue them from the sea; no one is suggesting that we let them drown. Boats, ships and drowned people will be the reality unless Europe states that it can only hold so many people and would prefer to support them on their own continent of Africa.