Astonishment, even before shock. Minister Franco Frattini’s placid tone is a thin mask for the Italian government’s irritation of recent hours. The border crossing slammed shut by France is only the latest move by Paris, and certainly does nothing to calm the waters in advance of the two countries’ 26 April summit. There is broad awareness of widespread hostility in Europe, in response to which, “we have managed to make ourselves heard and to put Italy back on track”, said the foreign minister—at least up until this latest incident.
Minister Frattini, you have asked France for clarification of what you have called «illegitimate measures». Relations with Paris have never been so critical. What is happening?
«Objectively speaking, we don’t understand this push–pull after the EU’s affirmative decision to accept temporary sojourn permits issued by Italy, as envisaged by Community law, and which for 48 hours now the bearers of which, along with their passports, have been allowed entry into France».
Then what happened?
«There is something we need to understand better. Perhaps they realised that opening up would have started a flood of arrivals, since it is true that the majority of Tunisians want to go there; or maybe the 300 “no global” demonstrators at Ventimiglia raised concerns. But frankly, that’s not enough to justify the closure of one of the most travelled and sensitive trans-European routes; this closure is shocking».
Temporary closure, is the French authorities’ reasoning.
«Ok. But dozens of trains carrying thousands of people travel that route daily. In brief, any interruption, in any case, compromises circulation and impacts on tourism and the economy».
Some are saying that what has happened could spell the end of Schengen.
«If the situation were to persist; in that case things would change in terms of free circulation, which is one of the pillars of the Union. But we are sure that France will clarify».
First the stand-off on the intervention in Libya, then the financial take-overs, and now the clash over the transit of immigrants. What is going to become of the 26 April summit?
«After an initial openness to transit, the situation has clouded over again. I believe that Berlusconi and Sarkozy and we Ministers of the Interior, Foreign Affairs and the Economy will have to emerge from this summit reasserting Italy and France’s desire to continue to work together as EU founding members. That goes for immigration as it does for industrial policy, for the so-called take-overs».
What if France does not respond to your request for clarification?
«That cannot happen on the eve of a bilateral summit. France knows that closure of this sort is not the way to deal with such situations».
Perhaps the Northern League is not helping by urging the boycott of French goods.
«These are polemics and provocations that come and go, and on which Bossi is always able to have the last word. There is no need to threaten actions of this sort».
Minister, don’t you thing that a lot of Italian governors and mayors are behaving like the French authorities? Shut the doors, let the others deal with it.
«I must say that the immigration emergency poses the same set of problems as the nuclear issue does. Everyone wants to confront the issue, but not in their own back yard, and each for his own reasons. But a greater willingness on everyone’s part would certainly help».
Are you sensing hostility from Europe? A sort of isolation?
«Internal bickering does our country no good. We have obtained a prominent role in NATO command in Libya; we are organising a meeting of the international contact group on the military operation for 2 May; have received recognition for temporary sojourn permits. Let’s say that, despite the difficulties, we have managed to confirm our role and to put Italy back on track».