Senior French officials said Friday
that "our line has not changed" on "irregular migrants" and
these would continue to be returned to Italy at border
crossings.
A senior official in the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes
told ANSA that rumours that French authorities were softening
their approach were not true.
Numerous migrants attempting to cross from Italy into
France at Ventimiglia have been rejected and this will continue
"in the normal way" the official said.
On Monday, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said
that France will not allow asylum seekers to cross its border
with Italy, arguing it was up to Rome to process their requests.
He said Italy must "agree to set up centres" to distinguish
legitimate refugees from economic migrants.
The European Commission has proposed relocating 40,000
asylum seekers already in Italy and Greece to other parts of the
Union, following a mandatory quota system.
That plan has divided the EU, with many States, including
France and Germany, coming out against the obligation to receive
the asylum seekers.
Italy's Premier Matte Renzi, on the other hand, says the
proposal does not go far enough.
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