The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, had a telephone conversation this morning, 4 May 2015, with the European Commissioner for Immigration, Dimitris Avramopoulos. The Foreign Minister illustrated to the Commissioner the problems caused by the increased flows of migrants towards our shores, problems that have still not received a satisfactory common response.
“The EU Summit finally stated the European character of migration in the Mediterranean, but we now need to see steps taken as a consequence”, underscored Gentiloni.
More specifically, in addition to strengthening Frontex, the European border control agency, Italy expects a special economic commitment from the European Union to tackle the urgent requirements involved in receiving migrants.
“A European emergency cannot continue to have a purely Italian response”, reiterated the Minister.
For his part, Commissioner Avramopoulos said that he understood Italy’s concerns. He assured Minister Gentiloni that they will be a key point on the European Agenda on Migration that Avramopoulos himself will be presenting next week.
