Italy battles to cope after new deluge of migrants

ITALY has threatened to turn away charity boats packed with rescued migrants because it is struggling to cope with the huge numbers arriving from Africa.

With almost 12,000 expected to reach Italian shores in coming days, officials in Rome warned that they are prepared to take drastic action to stop the influx.

In a deepening row with the EU over its position at the frontline of Europe’s migration crisis, Italy warned that the current situation is ‘unsustainable’. The threat to ban boats operated by charities comes as they are accused of running a ‘taxi service’ across the Mediterranean.

The proposal by ministers could see boats not flying the Italian flag or belonging to an EU-endorsed mission refused docking rights.

The charities and other non-governmental groups are accused of colluding with people smugglers in Libya. But the NGOs say this is a political smear and that, if they did not help, the numbers of deaths on the route would be even higher.

A record number of migrants are expected in Italy this year. Figures compiled by the UNHCR show that almost 78,742 have arrived so far compared to 67,702 in 2016 – a 16 per cent increase.

Italy’s EU minister Sandro Gozi warned that ‘Italy is really reaching its limit’. There is growing anger in Rome that other EU countries have not acted on a deal to take in some asylum seekers.

Brussels had begun legal action against Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic for refusing to take an agreed share of refugees.

Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni said his country was ‘asking certain European countries to stop looking the other way, because we cannot go on like this’.

Officials in Rome say they face a bill of billions of pounds every year to deal with the thousands of asylum seekers already in Italy.

While many have fled war zones, 40 per cent have their asylum pleas rejected, but deportation rules mean many are left in Italy for months.

Brussels has said it was ready to increase financial support for Italy, and Commission president JeanClaude Juncker yesterday urged other EU countries to do more to help.

Threats to ban charity boats come after the ruling centre-left lost heavily in local elections at the weekend to centre-right and anti-immigrant parties. Critics say the blockade will be difficult to enforce. One expert said: ‘It sounds more like a desperate way to get Europe’s attention.’

‘Our country is reaching its limit’