It is important that there is real solidarity between the EU member states and an equal burden sharing for migration flows, Deputy Chairman of the Interior Committee of the German Parliament, Lars Castellucci said Thursday.
A press release by the House of Representatives says that Chairman of the House Interior Committee Aristos Damianou, had a meeting on Thursday with Deputy Chairman of the Interior Committee in the German Bundestag, Dr. Lars Castellucci, who is visiting Cyprus as part of his tour of the region.
During the meeting, they both noted the excellent relations between Cyprus and Germany at all levels and pointed out that the intensification of contacts and exchanges at the parliamentary level has contributed significantly to the promotion of parliamentary diplomacy and to better addressing common challenges.
Damianou underlined that part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus is illegally occupied by Turkey for fifty years and that the continued occupation and thus the inability of the Repu
blic of Cyprus to exercise effective control over the occupied areas makes it particularly difficult to manage the migratory flows entering the Republic from the occupied areas, through the buffer zone, as a result of the instrumentalization of the issue by Turkey.
The situation in the Middle East, he pointed out, makes it difficult to address the root causes of the migration issue. Damianou said that it is important for the European Union to collectively take responsibility for migration flows and to ensure the fair distribution of the burden thus supporting but also relieving frontline countries, such as Cyprus, which are under disproportionate immigration pressure.
The German MP said he understands the difficulties that Cyprus is facing, adding that it is very important for the European Union to be informed and raise awareness of the situation in Cyprus both in terms of illegal immigration flows from the occupied territories and in relation to the possibility of a further influx of immigrants as a result
of a wider crisis in the region, so as to provide all possible help and support to the authorities of the Republic for better management of the problem.
It is important, he noted, that there is real solidarity between the EU member states and an equal sharing of the burden of responsibility for migration flows. They also exchanged views about further ways of cooperation as well as undertaking joint actions at the parliamentary level, towards this direction, the press release concludes.
Source : Cyprus News Agency