Brussels, 08/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Milan on Friday 8 April, Italian and French home ministers, Roberto Maroni and Claude Guéant, sought to put an end to the spat between them in recent days over the thousands of Tunisian migrants to whom Italy is willing to grant temporary residence permits. The previous day, France had issued a circular letter reminding the authorities concerned of the criteria that must be met by the Tunisian migrants if they are to be taken in on French soil. Rome found the French attitude and circular letter to be “hostile”. On Thursday evening, both countries sent the European Commission a letter setting out their respective points of view. These letters were being analysed by the Commission on Friday 8 April.
In Milan, however, the Italian and French ministers sought to play the appeasement game. Guéant even said, as reported by AFP, that they had found an agreement on how the Schengen treaty should be interpreted. The French minister affirmed it was clear that the permit to stay that the Italians are issuing allows free movement. However, he went on, this is limited to compliance with the conditions defined by the treaty. He pointed out that a travel document and minimum resources were required.
The two ministers also undertook, on Friday, to sent joint patrols along the Tunisian coast in order to prevent illegal migration from there, they announced. Roberto Maroni said Italy had decided by common accord with France to organise joint patrols along the Tunisian coast in order to block migrant departures. These patrols will take place within the framework of the Frontex agency, Claude Guéant pointed out. On Monday, during the home ministers' Council in Luxembourg, the EU27 will, moreover, examine how this agency may be strengthened using new technical and financial means.
In Milan, both ministers called for a joint effort to be made between their countries and the countries of the European Union in order to manage the flow of illegal migrants into Europe. The French minister went on to add that “neither Italy nor France aim to take in Tunisian migrants”. They both decided, moreover, to set up a joint working group to study and take initiatives to block the departure of illegal migrants from Tunisia. (S.P./transl.jl)