Alfano slams some EU states' 'selfish positions' on migrants

(ANSA) - Rome, September 30 - Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Wednesday there is a new approach to the migrant problem in Europe but "selfish positions persist" in some EU states.
    Speaking to the Schengen Commission, Alfano said he detects "a new approach, even if selfish positions persist among some countries who see the problem from an almost exclusively national standpoint".
    EU policy on migration must be based on three pillars "that stand together or fall together - relocation, hotspots and European repatriations," Alfano added.
    Alfano said as many as 130,577 migrants have arrived in Italy since the start of the year in 864 different landings by boat.
    Compared to last year that was 8,000 fewer migrant arrivals.
    Of the total arrivals this year 27% were from Eritrea, 13% from Nigeria, 7% from Somalia, and 6% from Syria and Sudan.
    The dip in the number of migrants contrasts with an increase of 213% in the number of migrants entering the EU as a whole, Alfano added, meaning that "the direction of the march is changing...because it was inconceivable that such a flow of refugees from wars should use only the route passing through Africa and Libya.