What the European Union does for Ukrainian refugees
This time the European Union is doing what it has so far denied to those fleeing the global South across the Mediterranean: planning and distributing refugees among all 27 nations. Federico Guiglia's notebook
For some time now, the Ukrainian community in Italy (about 240,000 people, 80 per cent women) has been the largest in Europe.
It is proof not of poorly or poorly distributed migration throughout the Union, but of successful integration with Italians and their families. In addition to a good relationship established over the years with the landing nation, often considered as a second home.
The political position of Italy, which immediately and without hesitation sided with the attacked in Putin's unfortunate war, did nothing but improve the feeling of solidarity that unites the two peoples. The Ukrainians do nothing but thank us for the concrete support received.
But the good rooting of the Ukrainians in the Peninsula is independent of the conflict and is also the result of the help that the residents offer to their compatriots and families on arrival. A precious model to be safeguarded even in the hour of the dramatic choice: the mass of refugees fleeing towards the coveted Europe. And many of which (over 700,000, it is estimated) destined to come to Italy.
This time the European Union is doing what it has so far denied to those fleeing the global South across the Mediterranean: planning and distributing refugees among all 27 nations. One way to be able to absorb the exodus without leaving it on the shoulders of the only and neighboring Poland.
But the same reasonable and compassionate approach must apply to Italy, which in turn is called upon to assist and distribute Ukrainians fleeing the war among Regions, Provinces and Municipalities.
Only in this way can evident disparities be avoided within the same territory or within cities not far from each other. Suffice it to say that in Brescia there are 4 thousand Ukrainians, while in Vicenza there are 1,500 and in Verona just over 700.
These are numbers that speak for themselves. But organizing the already foreseen and strong incoming flow in the best possible way is the only way to ensure to everyone, to those who are welcomed and those who welcome, a life that is as peaceful as possible for as long as necessary. "We need a government table with Civil Protection and Regions for a single protocol", says the president of the Municipalities, Antonio Decaro.
Clear and efficient procedures to involve the whole national territory. To allow Ukrainians to “feel at home” and Italians to be in solidarity with those who suffer and deserve all the warmth in the world.
(Published in The Arena of Verona, Il Giornale di Vicenza and Bresciaoggi)
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/unione-europea-rifugiati-ucraina/ on Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:54:37 +0000.