Italian Interior Minister
Angelino Alfano said Wednesday there is a new approach to the
migrant problem in Europe but "selfish positions persist" in
some EU states.
Speaking to the Schengen Commission, Alfano said he detects
"a new approach, even if selfish positions persist among some
countries who see the problem from an almost exclusively
national standpoint".
EU policy on migration must be based on three pillars "that
stand together or fall together - relocation, hotspots and
European repatriations," Alfano added.
Alfano said as many as 130,577 migrants have arrived in
Italy since the start of the year in 864 different landings by
boat.
Compared to last year that was 8,000 fewer migrant arrivals.
Of the total arrivals this year 27% were from Eritrea, 13% from
Nigeria, 7% from Somalia, and 6% from Syria and Sudan.
The dip in the number of migrants contrasts with an increase
of 213% in the number of migrants entering the EU as a whole,
Alfano added, meaning that "the direction of the march is
changing...because it was inconceivable that such a flow of
refugees from wars should use only the route passing through
Africa and Libya.
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