Agenzia Fides REPORT – It is a phenomenon that has been around for a long time, before the recent events in Tunisia, that the youth of Maghreb (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) has always wanted to get to the north shore of the Mediterranean”, Fides is told by Bishop Maroun Elias Lahham of Tunis, capital of Tunisia, from where migrants flow continually to Italy and the European Union countries. “Tunisia is experiencing a time of social, economic and political uncertainty with upcoming elections. The young people who came to Italy took advantage of the situation of insecurity, when police relaxed controls, to consistently escape to other shores in the Mediterranean. It is a phenomenon that has existed for some time but now it is making a greater effect because of the Country's instability,” said Bishop Lahham.
Upon asking the Bishop of Tunis whether it is possible to predict a halt to the emigration flows, he responds: “It depends on whether the new Government will offer more job opportunities in a Country where the official unemployment rate is 14%, but the real one is at least 20%.” The Bishop continued, “Keep in mind that many of the unemployed youth have a degree or higher degree. There are about 80,000 university graduates every year. Tunisia could only give jobs to half of those.”
“Can the EU do something about it?”, we ask Bishop Lahham. “I heard yesterday that the EU should grant € 258 million for development projects in Tunisia. In this way, in addition to helping the Tunisians, Europe is protected from a migrant stream that would be difficult for Italy and the EU to support,” says the Bishop of Tunis. “I realise that Italy can not accommodate all those people who would come to Italy. So the way to control this phenomenon is through collaboration to develop our Countries, convincing young people to stay here to assist in their development,” concluded Bishop Lahham.
Upon asking the Bishop of Tunis whether it is possible to predict a halt to the emigration flows, he responds: “It depends on whether the new Government will offer more job opportunities in a Country where the official unemployment rate is 14%, but the real one is at least 20%.” The Bishop continued, “Keep in mind that many of the unemployed youth have a degree or higher degree. There are about 80,000 university graduates every year. Tunisia could only give jobs to half of those.”
“Can the EU do something about it?”, we ask Bishop Lahham. “I heard yesterday that the EU should grant € 258 million for development projects in Tunisia. In this way, in addition to helping the Tunisians, Europe is protected from a migrant stream that would be difficult for Italy and the EU to support,” says the Bishop of Tunis. “I realise that Italy can not accommodate all those people who would come to Italy. So the way to control this phenomenon is through collaboration to develop our Countries, convincing young people to stay here to assist in their development,” concluded Bishop Lahham.
Comments