EU calls on Member States to offer resettlement places for Italy's migrant crisis

EU calls on Member States to offer resettlement places for Italy's migrant crisis

2011-04-08 22:10:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Commission on Friday called on all European Union Member States to offer resettlement places to cope with the thousands of migrants arriving at southern Italy.

The Commission announced that in the event of a massacre inflow of persons who are in need of international protection, Member States are expected to demonstrate concrete solidarity with each other by assisting and cooperating.

Italy and France have been engaged in a political dispute over the migrant crisis. As thousands of North African refugees arrive to the Italian Lampedusa Island, the French government decided to close its borders.

Italy demanded France to stop blocking access as over 26,000 migrants, most from Tunisia, have doubled the population from the Mediterranean Island. The Italian government on Thursday approved a decree to issue many of the migrants with temporary permits.

With such temporary documents, migrants will be able to roam freely on EU-Member States, including France. In response, the French government directed border officials to follow additional measures with migrants from third countries, including have sufficient financial resources and a valid travel document recognized by France.

Despite tensions, both nations agreed on Friday to operate joint patrols in the Mediterranean Sea in order to stop the arrival of migrants. However, the border access is still under dispute and the issue may be taken to the European Union on Monday.

The Euroepan Commission announced that the response to the migrant flows from North Africa was satisfactory as the measures undertaken to respond to the emergency were swiftly applied.

However, the Italian government has repeatedly slammed the EU for the lack of support and for leaving the migrant crisis to Italy. The Commission did not respond to the allegations but remarked that it ahs mobilized its two main emergency instruments, the Civil Protection mechanism and humanitarian funding through ECHO.

In addition, DG ECHO mobilized a team of 16 field experts in humanitarian aid and civil protection, who are now deployed in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt to monitor the situation, and work with the UN to assess the needs and facilitate the coordinated mobilization of EU assistance.

On February 20, the EU's Frontex launched a mission, the Joint Operation EPN Hermes Extension 2011, to assist the Italian authorities in managing the influx of migrants from North Africa.

On Wednesday, Italy and Tunisia reached an agreement on illegal immigration that includes the repatriation of migrants. Italy offered a credit-and-aid package worth some 250 million Euros ($354 million) to help the Tunisian government with the migrant crisis.

Since February, more than 26,000 migrants have arrived to Italian shores, most of them coming from the Tunisian ports of Zarzis, Djerba and Sfax. Over the past ten days, more than 2,000 African migrants and asylum seekers have landed on Lampedusa island after departing from the Libya.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-08