Europe must learn to embrace, not hinder, migrants

EUROPE has a problem with migrants — but not the problem that is highlighted regularly by politicians with their sights firmly set on elections.

Despite the headlines very few people from the southern Mediterranean have fled to Europe from the upheavals in North Africa, especially compared to the hundreds of thousands who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

Italy, where much of the controversy has been coming from, in fact takes in far fewer than most northern EU countries, choosing to send them on or deport them.