A European strategy is needed to
solve the migrant crisis, Premier Paolo Gentiloni said after a
Paris summit between the leaders of Italy, France, Germany,
Spain, Libya, Niger and Chad.
"We also need a commitment by all EU states", the premier
said after a summit that agreed on the need to sort economic
migrants from refugees in sub-Saharan Africa with the help of
the UN, which will also help improve conditions in Libyan
migrant camps.
Macron said the cooperation between Italy and Libya that has
seen a drastic fall in migrant numbers thanks to a crackdown on
NGO rescue ships was a "perfect example".
Some 35 refugees are set to arrive at Fiumicino today thanks
to the humanitarian corridors project promoted by the
Sant'Egidio Community.
There will also be a technical meeting at the interior
ministry with the Italian association of municipalities, ANCI,
on evictions of squatters and finding them alternative lodgings
in properties seized from the mafia, among other things.
The meeting comes after last week's controversial eviction of
some 800 Eritrean refugees from a Rome building they had
occupied for four years.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday "Libya is a
fragile State and must be strengthened".
She said "control of the coasts in Libya is needed and Italy
is giving important contributions".
Italy has forged a deal with Libya to turn back migrant boats
and has also cracked down on NGO rescue ships to stop migrant
traffickers.
In Paris the European leaders vowed to make radical changes
to the way migration is managed by giving greater support to
front-line countries such as Italy.
Managing migration and fighting human trafficking "is a
challenge that concerns everyone and that no-one can meet on
their own" said French President Emmanuel Macron after Monday's
summit in Paris involving the leaders of France, Italy, Germany,
Spain, Niger, Chad and Libya.
A follow-up summit with the same format will be held in Spain
in late October or early November to monitor progress, while
Macron said a special task force is already operational to
oversee the implementation of commitments on the ground.
The idea of sending equipment and soldiers to African
countries to assist with identification has also been
legitimised.
Taking joint action "is a moral requirement … but also a
principle of action and effectiveness" the 39-year-old leader
said.
Macron also said he is in favour of a "profound reform" of
the Dublin treaties regulating asylum in the European Union.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called for changes to
the Dublin system, which currently puts southern Mediterranean
countries of arrival at a disadvantage.
"A distinction needs to be made between economic migrants and
genuine candidates for refugee status," said Merkel on the eve
of elections in Germany.
The idea is to identify migrants who are entitled to asylum
in Niger or Chad "in order to ensure their safety as quickly as
possible", Macron explained.
This procedure will be carried out in safe areas under the
supervision of the UNHCR on the basis of "closed lists", he
added.
This will prevent "women and men from taking ill-advised
risks in an extremely dangerous area and subsequently in the
Mediterranean", Macron continued.
The plans include greater cooperation on security and justice
and in some cases also a military presence to prevent migrant
flows towards Libya from swelling further.
Spain highlighted the need to "create development" in source
countries, "eliminate the trafficking syndicates" and control
"our borders and our coasts".
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