European row grows as ‘axis’ against migrants takes shape
TOP-LEVEL meetings between French and Italian government officials were put on hold yesterday amid a growing Europe-wide row over immigration.
Finance ministers from both countries postponed a meeting planned for Friday and Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s prime minister, was reconsidering a summit with Emmanuel Macron unless the French president issued an apology for his criticism of Italy’s decision to turn away a rescue ship carrying more than 600 migrants.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian chancellor, said that the hardline interior ministers of Austria, Germany and Italy had formed an “axis of the willing” to combat illegal immigration into the EU, in a move that undermines Angela Merkel’s bid for unity across the bloc. Last night, the German chancellor said the handling of immigration in Europe was “a litmus test for the future and the cohesion of Europe.”
Tensions have risen along Italy and France’s shared border in recent months as migrants attempt to enter France clandestinely through the mountains above the French-italian Riviera.
The latest row between the two countries broke out after Mr Macron publicly criticised the “cynicism and irresponsibility” of the new populist government’s rejection of the Aquarius rescue ship with 629 migrants aboard. France insisted it was Italy’s responsibility under the Dublin Regulation, which stipulates that migrants should claim asylum in the country to which they first arrive.
Yesterday, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Italy’s foreign minister, lodged a formal complaint with Claire Anne Raulin, the French chargé d’affaires, over the remarks. A French foreign ministry spokesman said that France was “perfectly aware” of the migrant influx pressure on Italy and was “committed to cooperation and dialogue”.
Matteo Salvini, Italy’s interior minister, demanded Mr Macron apologise, noting that Italy has been aiding 10,000 people whom France pushed back from its border and adding that “we are all paying for instability the French brought to Libya and south of Libya”.
The Aquarius was yesterday en route to Valencia, where Spain has said it will be allowed to dock, after most of the rescued migrants were transferred to Italian navy and coastguard vessels travelling with it.
Italy, which carries out most of the search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, faced a fresh challenge on Wednesday as an Italian coastguard ship carrying 937 migrants and two corpses docked in Catania, Sicily, further irritating the populist government, which has made “closing the ports” a top priority.