City
Epaper

Italy to give Libyan Coast Guard more support, pressure Tunisia on migration

By IANS | Updated: July 12, 2019 01:10 IST

Italy will give more help to Libyan Coast Guard patrols intercepting migrants in the Mediterranean and Premier Giuseppe Conte will urge his Tunisian counterpart Youssef Chahed to step up coastal patrols and bolster bilateral expulsion accords.

Open in App

A statement from Conte's office said that it was agreed at a meeting late on Wednesday it was agreed that the Italian government will contribute to further support for the Libyan Coast Guard in terms of equipment and training.

While this year has seen drastic fall in the number of migrants landing on Italy's coast (some 3,000 against 17,000 in 2018), there is "a continuous" flow of small boats arriving from Tunisia, the statement noted.

"Given the continuous flow of small boats arriving in our country from Tunisia... Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will start dialogue with Tunisian Premier Youssef Chahed on intensifying patrols along its coasts and on strengthening existing repatriation agreements," said the statement.

Conte's planned negotiations with Chahed follows talks on migration between Italy's hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi and respective Tunisian counterparts, the statement said.

At European Interior and Foreign ministers meetings in mid-July, Salvini and Moavero will also repeat Italy's longstanding call for "an effective European mechanism" to relocate migrants who land in Italy, the statement went on.

Conte will also lobby for a Europe-wide migrant relocation mechanism at the next "opportune" summit of European leaders, the statement added.

Upon taking office in June last year, Salvini closed Italy's ports to migrant rescue ships leading to numerous international standoffs that left hundreds of migrants stranded at sea. He has also vowed to deport half a million people under his 'zero' immigration policy.

Over 700,000 migrants have landed in Italy since 2014.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: ItalyMatteo SalviniTunisiaMoavero
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalItaly Plane Crash Video: Two Dead After Aircraft Crashes Onto Highway in Brescia, Bursts Into Flames

Social ViralMan Drinks Almost Seven Litres of Liquid Eggs in 60 Seconds, Sets Guinness World Record (Watch Video)

InternationalGiorgia Meloni Congratulates Elon Musk After US Election Result, Says ‘Important Resource for US and Italy’

NationalVantara To Welcome 3 African Elephants From Tunisia To Experience New Life of Care and Compassion (Watch Vieo)

InternationalJonathan Bloomer Passes Away: Morgan Stanley International Chairman Dies in Italy's Yacht Tragedy

International Realted Stories

InternationalRussian volcano sends ash plume kilometres high in Kamchatka

InternationalTeenage girl arrested after fatal stabbing in Australia

InternationalSouth Korea's military says no signs of North Korea removing border loudspeakers

InternationalFood prices rise despite negative inflation in Brunei

InternationalPolice divers join search for woman missing in Sydney floods