Malta would be helped on a voluntary basis in resettling boat people, given its small size and the fact that most of its newcomers are people fleeing war in Libya. Italy is confronted by a bigger wave, but its boat people are mainly economic migrants rather than refugees who have taken to the sea because of the economic crisis in Tunisia after its pro-democracy revolution, and because border controls have become laxer after the downfall of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.
In any case, say fellow ministers, the flow of migrants to Italy is nothing like the influx of refugees into Europe (mainly Germany) during the Balkan wars, in response to which the EU directive was adopted.
Nonetheless, Roberto Maroni, the Italian interior minister, complained bitterly that the EU had abandoned Italy (video here, in Italian). “I ask myself if it makes sense to continue in this position: of continuing to be part of the European Union, an institution that is activated immediately to save banks, to declare war—but when it is a matter of expressing solidarity with a country in difficulty, such as Italy, it hides.”
He said that his country had been told: “Dear Italy. It's your business. Manage it on your own.” If this is the attitude of the EU, he declared, “we are better off alone than in bad company.”
Such comments are not entirely unexpected from a leading member of the anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic Northern League, except that Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, had offered similar sentiments a day earlier during a visit to Lampedusa: “Either Europe is something concrete, or it would be best to part ways”.
Nobody expects Italy, a founding member of the EU, to begin proceedings to withdraw. Its lashing out at outside foes may be a sign of a political system that is in fibrillation because of the multiple legal cases against Mr Berlusconi (he was in court today, denouncing "leftist" magistrates). Yet the anti-Europe mood has been harsh enough to alarm President Giorgio Napolitano (report here, in Italian).
Italy is resorting to a ruse that other countries suspect is a blatant attempt to export its problem: granting all arrivals from Tunisia temporary protection in Italy. In theory this would allow them to travel freely throughout the passport-free Schengen area, and most can be expected to take the opportunity to slip across the Alps to other countries, above all to France.
Malta would be helped on a voluntary basis in resettling boat people, given its small size and the fact that most of its newcomers are people fleeing war in Libya. Italy is confronted by a bigger wave, but its boat people are mainly economic migrants rather than refugees who have taken to the sea because of the economic crisis in Tunisia after its pro-democracy revolution, and because border controls have become laxer after the downfall of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.
In any case, say fellow ministers, the flow of migrants to Italy is nothing like the influx of refugees into Europe (mainly Germany) during the Balkan wars, in response to which the EU directive was adopted.
Nonetheless, Roberto Maroni, the Italian interior minister, complained bitterly that the EU had abandoned Italy (video here, in Italian). “I ask myself if it makes sense to continue in this position: of continuing to be part of the European Union, an institution that is activated immediately to save banks, to declare war—but when it is a matter of expressing solidarity with a country in difficulty, such as Italy, it hides.”
He said that his country had been told: “Dear Italy. It's your business. Manage it on your own.” If this is the attitude of the EU, he declared, “we are better off alone than in bad company.”
Such comments are not entirely unexpected from a leading member of the anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic Northern League, except that Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, had offered similar sentiments a day earlier during a visit to Lampedusa: “Either Europe is something concrete, or it would be best to part ways”.
Nobody expects Italy, a founding member of the EU, to begin proceedings to withdraw. Its lashing out at outside foes may be a sign of a political system that is in fibrillation because of the multiple legal cases against Mr Berlusconi (he was in court today, denouncing "leftist" magistrates). Yet the anti-Europe mood has been harsh enough to alarm President Giorgio Napolitano (report here, in Italian).
Italy is resorting to a ruse that other countries suspect is a blatant attempt to export its problem: granting all arrivals from Tunisia temporary protection in Italy. In theory this would allow them to travel freely throughout the passport-free Schengen area, and most can be expected to take the opportunity to slip across the Alps to other countries, above all to France.
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