"A simple solution is to return them to a culture where such circumstances cannot occur. "
And where would that be to, Andy? In all likelihood they have arrived somewhere in the EU “sans papiers” and nobody knows their country of origin. Of course what should have happened is that, unless they had arrived direct from a country where they were under threat (which is most unlikely) they should have been returned to the country they last left. These are the rules. But that would mean that the EU would have to properly police its external borders. Being singularly unable to do that it sees the solution instead in rescuing those who have imperilled themselves on the high seas and providing a free ferry service to Europe. After that it then allows the illegal immigrants free rein (courtesy of the Schengen Agreement) to roam to their preferred destination. Then people wonder why incidents such as this occur.