Giving 200,000 migrants
humanitarian visas to travel in Europe, as claimed by the Sunday
Times, is not on the government's agenda, Foreign Minister
Angelino Alfano said Monday.
"We have an overall strategy," the minister said.
"This is not an issue on our agenda. Besides, the numbers
were made (up) by the newspapers and no one in the Italian
government ever issued them.
"We certainly have a strategy, which aims to be effective and
needs European cooperation".
As for renewing the mandate of the migrant-rescuing Operation
Sophia, on whcih Italy has voiced reservations, Alfano said: "We
will face the questions of the renewal and all those that
concern its connection with the Triton rules".
This discussion, he said, will not take place in today's EU
foreign ministers' meeting "but in the proper fora, within the
deadline of July 27".
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