Migrants, Mattarella-Macron phone call: “We need full cooperation”

Sergio Mattarella, Emmanuel Macron – Photo by Ansa Foto

The issue of migrants was at the center of a phone call between the Italian and French presidents, Sergio Mattarella and Emmanuel Macron respectively. During the interview, the two men recalled the importance of relations between France and Italy and shared the need to collaborate in all areas, both bilaterally and within the European Union.

At the end of the interview, the Colle and the Elysée published a joint press release on their respective home pages of their official sites.

Telephone conversation between President #Mattarella 🇮🇹 and the President of the French Republic #Macron 🇫🇷: pic.twitter.com/2oKp1zTWEF

– Quirinale (@Quirinale) November 14, 2022

During the phone call, the press release states that “both affirmed the great importance of relations between the two countries and shared the need to establish the conditions for full cooperation in all sectors, both in the bilateral sphere and within the European Union”. “.

Tajani: “We didn’t say ‘Ocean Viking must go to France'”

An overture also comes from Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, after a week in which tones between Paris and Rome had heated up over the story of the Ocean Viking ship.

“There was a statement of good faith from Palazzo Chigi, ‘we thank France,’ and then they took it as a provocation by using exaggerated tones,” Tajani explained half an hour later on Rai Tre. Italy “talked about a ship that was going to French waters, we didn’t say ‘it has to go to France’.

Migrants, head of Farnesina: “Ready to speak to the French”

And on the tension with Paris, the boss of Farnesina said: “We have nothing to hang up. We are ready to talk to the French, they are the ones who overreacted. It seems to me more for a question of internal politics, ”added the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“The problem must be tackled at European level”

“Nobody wants to add fuel to the fire, but the problem must be tackled at European level. Of the 90,000 who arrived in Italy, 8,000 migrants had to be relocated to EU countries, but so far 117 have been relocated, including 36 to France. Italy has always done its part, we have always respected all the agreements, it is the others who have not kept them”.

According to Tajani, therefore, a European strategy is needed, a Marshall Plan for Europe and a short, medium and long-term strategy: “It is not written anywhere that all migrants who want to arrive in Europe must land in Italy” .

Migrants, NGOs, Tajani: “They should not decide their migration policy”

The head of Farnesina also reiterated the government’s position on NGOs: “We need European rules on NGOs, the European Commission should be able to make a proposal, a communication, quickly, to settle the issue, as well as modernizing the treaty from Dublin. . We have to save people, but I would not like certain NGOs to decide on their migration policy, perhaps creating friction between different countries”.

“Europe must not only focus on the fight against illegal immigration, but also need long-term work to solve the problem at its root, by creating conditions for development that discourage departures”.