Renzi to ask help from UN and EU on undocumented immigration

(ANSA) - Rome, April 28 - Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday vowed during a government meeting in Rome to appeal for more commitment from the European Union and the United Nations on tackling undocumented immigration. "Italy will return with determination to ask more commitment on the part of the United Nations and the European Union," in view of Italy's upcoming six-month presidency of the EU Council, Renzi said during a summit on the Mare Nostrum sea patrol and rescue mission in the Mediterranean.
    The administration of Renzi's predecessor Enrico Letta set up Mare Nostrum to prevent further deaths at sea following two migrant ship disasters in October 2013 in which around 400 people died.
    Monday's high level meeting, which included the ministers of defence, the interior and foreign affairs, as well as the national head of police, was held to assess Mare Nostrum "for its positive action tackling organized crime, which has brought the arrest of 207 human traffickers" and saved human lives, "but also its critical issues, especially the commitment on the part of the United Nations and the European Union". According to Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, more than 20,500 migrants have already landed on Italy's coasts to date this year - an enormous increase over the 2,500 reported during the same period in 2013.
    Thousands more have arrived since he spoke earlier this month, heightening the concerns about Italy's ability to cope.