Africa-Press – Seychelles. The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, defended that the European Union must develop “a true Marshall Plan” for Africa and be firmer on the issue of African migrants trying to reach Europe.
“We need a true European Marshall Plan for Africa and agreements with Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Niger and other Sahel countries”, defended Tajani, in an interview with the newspaper “Corriere della Sera”, stressing that Italy wants European action stronger, because the seven thousand kilometers of Italian coast are the southern frontier of Europe”.
Regarding the open confrontation with Paris, which threatens Rome with reprisals due to the Italian refusal to allow the disembarkation of a humanitarian ship belonging to the French organization SOS Mediterranée, the head of Italian diplomacy stated that, in this matter of immigrants, Italy raised “a problem political”, but did not intend to “create any controversy”.
Tajani also considered that the “disproportionate” French reaction to the Italian rejection of the disembarkation of migrants from the Ocean Viking ship was also influenced by “internal political issues”.
“We do not want to argue with France, we have not harmed them and we have always been fair”, he said, referring, however, that he defends “Italy’s reasons” and that “the principle that Non-Governmental Organizations come to an agreement to welcome the immigrants cannot be allowed”.
The new extreme right-wing Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, has tightened Italian policy with NGOs, which it accuses of promoting the flow of migrants from Africa, and has issued a decree that only allows the most vulnerable to disembark in Italy. The remaining migrants cannot leave the ships and must be returned to international waters.
Tajani said that today, at the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU, Italy will raise the issue of immigration with great serenity and determination, because the problem has been dragging on for years and it is absolutely necessary to solve it.
“We demand more from Europe, we demand that the European Commission make a code of conduct for NGOs”, he added. The minister also denied that Rome is isolated in this matter: “Not at all”, he said.
“Germany and Luxembourg will respect the agreements, as we will. And Greece, Malta and Cyprus are also in solidarity, as they signed a joint declaration by the Ministers of Internal Affairs with Italy, because they have the same problem”, he said, emphasizing that Manfred Weber, the president of the European People’s Party, also agreed with the Italian position.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also justified the need to address the issue of African migration “at an early stage”.
“In 2050 there will be almost three billion Africans. The problem must be solved at an early stage, addressing climate change, diseases, poverty, wars and terrorism”, he considered.
For More News And Analysis About Seychelles Follow Africa-Press
