Brussels, 22/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - It is on legal and illegal immigration, data protection and the future European public prosecutor that the Italian Presidency's programme is the most anticipated under the justice and home affairs heading.
This became very clear to Italian Home Affairs Minister Angelino Alfano and his counterpart for Justice Andrea Orlando when they presented the working programme of the Italian Presidency to the MEPs of the committee on civil liberties of the European Parliament, on Tuesday 22 July. An exhaustive programme, but not one which led to any new announcements, as the two ministers were happy to stick to the framework laid down by the Council. Alfano stressed the need to work to open up new legal channels of migration to the EU, but did not at this stage specify how. He said that the common borders should be better protected and Frontex's resources increased, which came as a shock to Ska Keller (Greens/EFA, Germany). She expressed concern that the reinforcement of Frontex missions will be to the detriment of Syrian refugees.
Italy's priorities include cooperation with the countries of origin of the migrants who arrive in the EU, and not only with the transit countries. Alfano emphasised the need for dialogue with the countries of Africa. He acknowledged that it was currently highly complex to work with Libya, the country via which most migrants reach Italy. On immigration, Italy wants “actions leading to results in the short, medium and long terms”, he said. Tackling trafficking in human beings, corruption and terrorism, as well as fighting crimes of hate, xenophobia and discrimination, are among the other priorities of the Italian Presidency.
Data protection reform and the exchange of data with third countries, the European public prosecutor and cooperation in criminal and civil law matters are questions on which the Italian Presidency hopes to make progress, said Orlando. “During our Presidency, we will seek to reach a common approach to data protection”, he pledged. However, Italy will await the decision of the next Commission on the fate of the retention of data telecoms directive, which the Court of Justice annulled in April. (SP)