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.
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