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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 9846
Contents Publication in full By article 24 / 35
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) ep/jha

GUE/NGL members satisfied with Barrot's commitments on Lampedusa

Brussels, 23/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - A delegation of European United Left/Nordic Green Left MEPs have said they are “satisfied” with answers provided by European Justice, Liberty and Security Commissioner Jacques Barrot, who has undertaken to ensure that human rights are respected and to use European funds to resolve the immigration problems in Lampedusa. Barrot “confirmed that he will submit the delegation's criticisms to the representative of the Italian Home Affairs ministry, Roberto Maroni, and that he would do everything in his power to verify and guarantee the right to respectable conditions of reception and would take all the necessary procedures to verify the use by the Italian government of European resources in Lampedusa,” said Italian MEP Giusto Catania, stating that the delegation had presented Barrot with a report setting out the shameful conditions encountered at the Contrada Imbriacola Reception Centre. The MEPs called on Barrot to monitor use of European funds, and especially those set aside for repatriation and the protection of external borders that could result in human rights violations, in particular for the most vulnerable people such as minors and asylum seekers. Last week, clashes between illegal immigrants and the police ended with around 60 people being injured at a repatriation centre in Lampedusa. The main cause of the unrest was concern over the opening of an Identification and Repatriation Centre to speed up procedures for removing illegal immigrants. Barrot will visit Lampedusa from 12-14 March. (B.C./transl.rt)

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