Premier Paolo Gentiloni said
Thursday that Italy was not satisfied with the discussions on
changing the Dublin Regulation, which determines how the EU
handles asylum seekers.
"The main issue, of the many issues, will be the immigration
question," Gentiloni said ahead of Thursday's summit of EU
leaders, his first at Italy's head of government after he
replaced Matteo Renzi.
"And Italy will be very demanding on this because we are not
yet satisfied with the discussion about the Dublin Regulation,
which sets the rules on receiving refugees".
The Dublin Regulation rules that asylum seekers must be
processed in their country of arrival, which places a huge
burden on Italy, which is taking the brunt of the Mediterranean
migrant crisis due to is geographical position.
Gentiloni said this week that it was "unacceptable" for the
European Union to take a hard line with its budget rules and not
on commitments to share the burden of the asylum-seeker crisis.
"We'll have a clear position," he told the Lower House.
"It's not acceptable for the principle to pass that the EU is
too strict with some aspects of austerity and too tolerant with
countries that do not agree to share common responsibilities (on
migrants)."
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