Migrants: Italy can't manage alone Meloni tells Michel

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 30 - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed the importance of EU States having a united front in relation to handling migrant flows, saying Italy cannot be left to manage on its own, after meeting European Council President Charles Michel in Rome on Monday.
    "It is not in anyone's interest to have a rift over an issue like migration," Meloni told reporters.
    "It would amount to giving a present to the traffickers of human beings".
    Italy is calling for changes to the way the EU manages migrant flows.
    Rome says the current system puts too much of the burden on coping with migrant flows on Italy which, because of its geographical position, is the prime destination for asylum seekers coming from North Africa.
    "It is necessary to urgently move towards European solutions to a European problem, as Italy has been saying for years," Meloni said.
    "An awareness that the EU can and must intervene, starting from the defence of its external borders, is taking hold.
    "And there is an awareness that Italy can't manage the problem on its own".
    The talks between Meloni and Michel took place as part of the preparation for the February 9-10 extraordinary European Council summit. (ANSA).