Europe is racing to put national barriers back up again. Does that surprise you, Mr Gentiloni?
«It is a danger I’ve long been pointing to. We risk sacrificing Schengen on the altar of Dublin. Strict compliance to immigration rules that are outdated by the times is undermining one of Europe’s biggest conquests: freedom of movement».
And why aren’t the old Dublin agreements laid aside?
«Because on this issue the Union resembles a home-owners meeting in which everybody argues with their neighbours and then they all turn on whoever guards the entrance to the condominium, in this case Greece».
However a problem does exist there…
«Of course. But do you know how many refugees arrived in Greece in 2015? More than 850,000. To think that, as the country of first entry, it could, on its own, give asylum to them all, is at odds with reality. Asylum must be made European, making the mechanism we call “relocation” permanent. And also the repatriation of those who are not entitled to asylum must be a European task. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people to be sent back to “safe” countries».
Many say: let’s create a common police force to deploy at the borders. Would you agree to that?
«It would make me very happy indeed. Everything we now have in common, from Frontex to Triton, has arisen from an Italian initiative. However, I see too much hypocrisy in certain things being said about external borders. Europe already has a naval fleet in the Mediterranean. And so my question is: must it turn back boats carrying refugees escaping wars in order to defend external borders?».
Would it possible to demand that Turkey perform a stronger containment action?
«The migration flow can be contained but I would avoid being under the delusion that Turkey can act like a faucet. In any case, the Union has signed an agreement with Ankara that includes resuming negotiations on its possible future accession to Europe. It is a course of action that Italy has been supporting for 15 years, but that others have stalled. And the time wasted has not been beneficial to Turkey».
We are blamed of being slow in registering the migrants that make landfall in Italy. Is that true?
«Italy is absolutely in step with the programme approved by Brussels. On registrations, we are doing what we were supposed to do while the Union is very much behind on relocations and repatriations».
Is Italy resigned to seeing the end of Schengen?
«Not at all. The suspensions decided by some Member Countries must remain extraordinary and limited in time. However, a common assumption of responsibility must be forthcoming before spring, namely before migration flows start becoming very consistent again».
And should this not happen?
«The situation is bound to become difficult for everybody».
Do you mean that Italy too could seal its borders?
«No. It means that we need adequate commitments and resources».
In Brussels some fear that Italy might yield to the temptation of banging its fists on the table…
«It is our duty to defend national interests. Everybody does it and, in addition, it avoids doing a favour to anti-Europeanisms. However, compared to others, Mr Renzi’s government has an additional ambition: to contribute to relaunching Europe through a transition that is one of the most delicate in its history. We will be talking about this in two weeks’ time in Rome, at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the six Founding Countries».
What kind of relaunch does Italy have in mind?
«In a 28-Member Union, the time has now come to imagine different levels of integration. We need that the nucleus of those who, like us, want greater political and economic integration, coexist with a broader circle, made up of those who believe in the single market and in the EU as it now stands but don’t want to go any further».
A year after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, Paris is still on the hit-list. What does the latest attack bring to your mind?
«The extraordinary march held a year ago. The force shown by Paris and our show of solidarity».
In Libya there continues to be a sequence of bloody attacks claimed by ISIS. What do you think the response should be?
«Proceed steadfastly through the Rome and Morocco Conferences, which envisage the prompt establishment of a government of national accord. Any delay along this path is a favour to ISIS».
Is it possible to envisage a military intervention?
«Should the new Libyan government request it, Italy and other countries would not come short of providing support for security needs. However, it must be clear that no one is thinking of raids or shows of muscle power, but only efforts to accompany stabilisation».
The Arab world is on fire, not only over fundamentalists but also because of the tug-of-war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. What is Italy planning to do?
«To do its best to defuse tensions. In January, we will be the first Western nation to be visited by Iran’s leaders after the nuclear agreement. We will not miss this opportunity to advocate détente».
