Minister Bonino met Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) at the Farnesina today, 10 October 2013.
The meeting gave the Italian Foreign Minister an opportunity to examine the immigration question with Mignon, not least in light of the recent tragic events in Lampedusa. Another topic of discussion was the Report by the PACE’s Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, which will be examined by the Council on 22 November. Minister Bonino underscored the extraordinary efforts made by Italy – on whose coasts about 30,000 migrants have landed since January 2013 – in managing migration flows.
Minister Bonino also discussed other Council of Europe issues of great interest to Italy with Mr. Mignon, for example the neighbourhood policy with respect to the southern short of the Mediterranean. The PACE President stressed the growing importance of the work of the Venice Commission and partnership with the countries of Eastern Europe, such as Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, and of the southern Mediterranean, such as Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.