Premier Paolo Gentiloni
said in Slovenia Thursday that all EU countries must respect
Wednesday's European Court of Justice ruling rejecting Hungary
and Slovakia's appeals against migrant relocations.
"The EU court's decision is important because it affirms two
principles: from the standpoint of method, decisions must be
respected, and the principle of solidarity, which underlay the
decision taken on relocations, was confirmed," he said.
Gentiloni said "I think the EU court's decisions must commit
all EU member countries and Italy will look to this in the
coming months because decisions must be respected".
Hungary and Slovakia have indicated they will not respect the
ECJ's ruling.
Gentiloni also said Italy's success in cutting migrant
arrivals was clear but policy must be consolidated and
"Europeanised as much as possible".
Speaking at a joint press conference with Slovenian Premier
Miro Cerar, Gentiloni said "the results on immigration can be
seen, namely the reduction of landings and migratory flows,
which is a result of our policy and the support of the EU".
There was an 82% drop in migrant arrivals in Italy in August
thanks to a deal with Libya and a code of conduct for
migrant-rescuing NGOs.
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