webfact Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Italy proposes African migrant centres to halt immigrant tide By Ahmed Elumami FILE PHOTO: Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini looks on during the news conference at the Viminale in Rome, Italy, June 20, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Italy called on Monday for migrant centres to be set up in Africa to stop a tide of asylum-seekers fleeing towards western Europe, as Rome raised pressure on its European Union partners to take a much tougher approach to immigration. The new Italian government has closed its ports to charity ships operating in the Mediterranean, saying the EU must share the burden of disembarking the hundreds of migrants who are plucked from waters each month, mostly off the Libyan coast. Italy, which lies close to Libya, has taken in 650,000 boat migrants since 2014. Its tough new approach has aggravated EU tensions over immigration policy and created concerns among investors. "Reception and identification centres should be set up...," Italy's anti-immigration interior minister, Matteo Salvini, said on a visit to Libya, the departure point for most migrants trying to reach Europe by sea. Meeting his counterpart in Libya's internationally-recognised government Abdulsalam Ashour and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeg, Salvini thanked the Libyan coastguard for its "excellent work" in rescuing and intercepting migrants. However, the Tripoli-based government, which does not control the whole of Libya, is unwilling to host reception centres itself. Maiteeg said that while his government was ready to tackle migration, "we completely reject any migrant camps in Libya". After returning to Italy, Salvini said such centres should be set up south of Libya, in Niger, Mali, Chad and Sudan. Earlier, he said the EU should fund efforts in Africa to stop uncontrolled migration to Europe. As EU leaders prepare to discuss immigration policy in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, Italy's refusal to accept charity-run rescue ships has stranded hundreds of Africans at sea, their rescuers waiting for an EU country to accept them. Rescue ship Lifeline, with more than 230 migrants aboard, is stuck in international waters in the Mediterranean. And a private cargo ship, the Alexander Maersk, has been waiting to be assigned a port since it picked up 113 migrants off southern Italy on Friday, the ship owner said. Earlier this month, a vessel carrying more than 600 migrants on board was stranded before it was accepted by Spain. EU TENSIONS ERUPT At their summit, EU leaders will agree to tighten external borders, give more support to Libya and look at creating "disembarkation" centres outside their territory. However, a draft of their statement showed no agreement on distributing asylum seekers around the bloc. Italy's anti-immigration stance, criticised by human rights groups who say its risks lives at sea, has sharpened divisions in the EU, which took in more than a million refugees and migrants in 2015 alone. It has irritated France, with European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau telling Rome that international law obliged it to let the Lifeline dock. Salvini responded by calling the minister "ignorant". The tensions have also reached Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel faces a revolt by her Bavarian conservative allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), who want to take a tougher line on immigration. The risk that Merkel's allies could desert her on migration has unnerved investors, who sold off Italian bonds on Monday and bought German Bunds, which tend to perform strongly in times of trouble in the euro zone. CSU General Secretary Norbert Blume told Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper that it was time to act but added: "None of us wants to call into question the conservative alliance or the government." The coalition is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the immigration dispute. In Italy, Salvini's actions and rhetoric have been popular with voters, with his right-wing League party gaining ground in municipal elections on Sunday. Salvini's opponents accuse him of playing on fear, noting that crossings have fallen sharply since last July, after the previous Italian government targeted people-smuggling networks and Libya's EU-trained coastguard stepped up interceptions. Around 11,000 migrants have arrived in Italy from Libya so far this year, down more than 80 percent from the same periods in 2016 and 2017, Italian interior ministry data shows. For a graphic on migrant sea crossings http://tmsnrt.rs/2r3fFjQ Interceptions of migrant boats by Libya's coastguard have surged over the past week, with almost 1,000 African asylum-seekers picked up in one day on Sunday. The interceptions have been criticised by human rights activists because of the dire conditions facing migrants in widely lawless Libya, where they often face physical abuse including torture and rape. Salvini said Italy would give 20 patrol boats to the Libyan coastguard. "We'll do all we can to make sure it's the Libyan authorities that patrol Libyan waters," he said, accusing some private rescue organisations of helping human traffickers. He also played down reports of inhuman conditions in Libyan detention centres. He did not rule out abuses at informal camps, but said the U.N. refugee agency had assured him that rules were respected at the official centres. (Additional reporting by Gavin Jones, Massimiliano Di Giorgio, Richard Lough, Michael Nienaber, Michelle Martin, Aidan Lewis and Gabriela Baczynska; Writing by Aidan Lewis and Mark Bendeich; editing by Mark Heinrich and David Stamp) -- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-26 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksamuiguy Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 The new Devils (island) Continent. Mans inhumanity to Man will never stop! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bert bloggs Posted June 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2018 Sounds like a really good idea. Mind you a better one would be they stay in their own countrys .,on the other hand those who think we should take them in ,should bear the cost of keeping an immigrant and housing them as long as they are not working and paying taxes . , 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Baerboxer Posted June 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2018 43 minutes ago, ksamuiguy said: The new Devils (island) Continent. Mans inhumanity to Man will never stop! There is a lot of inhumanity - always has been and sadly probably always will be. In a world where millionaires own over half the world's wealth, and their share is increasing, that's hardly surprising. And we have billionaire entertainers, including sports entertainers, lecturing others while living the life of luxury in their ivory towers. But allowing mass illegal immigration into Europe, from mainly aggressive young males, who expect lots of free handouts and be allowed to live the lifestyle they choose, break laws and do what the want, isn't going to help change that. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Renegade Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 4 hours ago, webfact said: Italy proposes African migrant centres to halt immigrant tide Propose what you like. The damage is done and nothing is going to turn the tide. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 (edited) 53 minutes ago, The Renegade said: Propose what you like. The damage is done and nothing is going to turn the tide. Says someone who fears that this problem being solved means less fuel for the demagogues' fire. Edited June 26, 2018 by bristolboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Stargeezr Posted June 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2018 Europe should not be a dumping grounds for Africa, or anywhere. Since it is too hard to build a wall to stop them, maybe this could be a solution. Ha! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morch Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 And then there's this: Walk or die: Algeria strands 13,000 migrants in the Sahara https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/walk-or-die-algeria-abandons-13000-migrants-in-the-sahara/2018/06/25/ca7356c2-7841-11e8-ac4e-421ef7165923_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.fe8dff4e9ef1 Thousands of Migrants Dumped in Desert and Told to Walk to Safety http://www.newsweek.com/thousands-migrants-dumped-desert-and-told-walk-safety-993596 Algeria accused of abandoning more than 13,000 migrants in Sahara Desert without food or water https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/algeria-migrants-sahara-desert-denies-women-children-without-food-drink-a8415681.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick dasterdly Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Just now, Morch said: And then there's this: Walk or die: Algeria strands 13,000 migrants in the Sahara https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/walk-or-die-algeria-abandons-13000-migrants-in-the-sahara/2018/06/25/ca7356c2-7841-11e8-ac4e-421ef7165923_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.fe8dff4e9ef1 Thousands of Migrants Dumped in Desert and Told to Walk to Safety http://www.newsweek.com/thousands-migrants-dumped-desert-and-told-walk-safety-993596 Algeria accused of abandoning more than 13,000 migrants in Sahara Desert without food or water https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/algeria-migrants-sahara-desert-denies-women-children-without-food-drink-a8415681.html Were the 'refugees' genuinely refugees - or were they migrants looking for a better life? It's horrible - but economic refugees need to be shown that it's not an option, which would vastly reduce the number of economic migrants. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morch Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 6 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said: Were the 'refugees' genuinely refugees - or were they migrants looking for a better life? It's horrible - but economic refugees need to be shown that it's not an option, which would vastly reduce the number of economic migrants. In response to your question - I don't know. Rather doubt even being "economic migrants" merits such treatment, though. Guess the next step would be Algeria opining it's a great idea setting up refugee camps farther afield etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bert bloggs Posted June 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 26, 2018 Where is Silly Allan when she is needed? And Sting ,and Cumberbitch .oh i forgot ,either tucked up in their million pound homes or jetting off to hug another infant,thats if they can get their PR people to find one . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, bert bloggs said: Where is Silly Allan when she is needed? And Sting ,and Cumberbitch .oh i forgot ,either tucked up in their million pound homes or jetting off to hug another infant,thats if they can get their PR people to find one . Most likely they're not where some clueless people engage in juvenile name calling. Unless they're in the company of some very small and bratty children. Edited June 26, 2018 by bristolboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert bloggs Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 1 hour ago, bristolboy said: Most likely they're not where some clueless people engage in juvenile name calling. Unless they're in the company of some very small and bratty children. Whooooo!!, Do you run Lilly's fan club. cry me a river 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expatthailover Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Concentration camps, the final solution etc etc. 70 years after publicly executing the last right wing nutter in charge, the Italians want another try at self destruction. Italy has long been one of the basket cases of europe. Change govt every 5 minutes, major recipient of eu bail outs. The latest govt has decided it is the fault of migrants!! Priceless The new fogies will enjoy this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 LOL. I wrote just the other day that Europe should set up camps in Africa to do an Australian solution, and now it's an idea supported from on high! Actually, I've been suggesting the Australian solution for Europe for a long time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 20 hours ago, webfact said: And a private cargo ship, the Alexander Maersk, has been waiting to be assigned a port since it picked up 113 migrants off southern Italy on Friday, the ship owner said. If that continues for long it's going to cost the owner a ton of money. In that event, ship owners may order their captains to apply the "Nelson" solution in future. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwebb8825 Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 On 6/27/2018 at 2:31 AM, thaibeachlovers said: LOL. I wrote just the other day that Europe should set up camps in Africa to do an Australian solution, and now it's an idea supported from on high! Actually, I've been suggesting the Australian solution for Europe for a long time. Seems they could do the same in South America? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 On 7/2/2018 at 10:40 AM, mrwebb8825 said: Seems they could do the same in South America? I think you mean Central America, but I'm sure they have considered the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now