Tajani says European SAR mission 'not a solution'

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 24 - Italian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Friday establishing a European search-and-rescue at sea mission is not a solution to the problem of managing the growing number of migrants and refugees attempting the sea crossing to Europe.
    "I always respect everyone, but the proposal doesn't seem to me to be a solution," Tajani told Radio Anch'io.
    "It's clear that Europe has to intervene on migration flows, it's Europe's task,' said the Deputy Premier, a top exponent of the centre-right government Forza Italia party. "There has to be strong action against human traffickers, and I would like everyone to engage in this tough fight against traffickers and to prevent departures.
    "Of course you have to save people at sea, but you have to prevent them from leaving and we need to have regular flows," he added.
    On Thursday Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein said the Italian government was not approaching the European Union the right way when it comes to the issue of managing migration.
    "It should ask for more responsibility sharing for the reception (of migrants and refugees), going beyond the Dublin Regulation (on handling asylum claims), and for a European search-and-rescue at sea mission," said Schlein on the sidelines of the pre-EU summit meeting of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in Brussels. (ANSA).