The letter begins with a “dear Olaf” and ends with “a cordial greeting”, but the concepts expressed by Giorgia Meloni in the letter sent last Saturday to German Chancellor Scholz are determined to put doubts, perplexities and even a certain irritation on paper , who are nourished at Palazzo Chigi by what Berlin is doing on the subject of migrants and NGOs. The prime minister, after recalling that the Italian executive has been busy “on the front line” in recent weeks in dealing with “exceptional” migratory pressure, points the finger at Germany’s action. “I learned with amazement that your government, in a non-coordinated manner with the Italian government – highlights the Prime Minister addressing the chancellor – would have decided to support with significant funds non-governmental organizations involved in welcoming irregular migrants on Italian territory and in rescues in the Mediterranean Sea”. Both possibilities, Meloni points out, “raise questions”.
One is highlighted in the form of a rhetorical question: “First of all, with regard to the important and burdensome chapter of ground assistance, it is legitimate to ask whether it does not deserve to be facilitated in particular on German territory rather than in Italy”. Furthermore, the prime minister continues, “it is widely known that the presence of NGO boats at sea has a direct effect of multiplying the departures of precarious boats which not only results in a further burden for Italy, but at the same time increases the risk of new tragedies at sea”. In short, according to Palazzo Chigi, “the efforts, including financial, of the EU Nations interested in providing concrete support to Italy should rather concentrate on building structural solutions to the migratory phenomenon, for example by working on an EU initiative with the transit countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean, which would also require fewer resources than that which has long been in place with Turkey”. The letter addressed to Berlin therefore ends with an invitation to outline the state of the art of the operation and an appointment already set in the diary. “Certain of your understanding and collaboration – writes Meloni to Scholz – I hope that the exact contours of these initiatives of your Government can be better clarified, and I will be happy to discuss the issue in person at the first useful opportunity, starting from the EPC Summit and from the Granada European Council on 5 and 6 October”.
And also putting Germany in the crosshairs is Matteo Salvini who considers “a hostile act” the fact that foreign countries finance foreign private associations “to bring illegal immigrants to Italy. I expect the German government to stop financing those who participate in a flow unacceptable of illegal immigrants in our country”. However, Berlin responds to the attacks and amazement coming from Rome by recalling that the decision to provide financial support both for civil rescue at sea and for other assistance activities “was taken some time ago and the Italian partners had already been informed”. “It took some time before the organization was selected (for funding). Now it has happened and therefore it was a surprise for many”, the words of the spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry, Sebastian Fischer, which are confirmed to LaPresse from a German government spokesperson, who adds: “We can confirm receipt of the letter from the Italian Prime Minister, the letter will receive a response.” However, the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, is also ready to ask for an account of the German moves, having flown to Paris to meet his counterpart Catherine Colonna: “I will be in Berlin on Thursday, I will ask my colleague Foreign Minister what the reason for the funding of NGOs is that they have to bring migrants to Italy. Perhaps it was more right to finance NGOs that bring migrants to Germany since Germany finances them. I will try to understand why. I hope to have explanations from the German government.” The discussion with Paris is different, also because the deputy prime minister admits, “President Macron’s words regarding collaboration on immigration were greatly appreciated. Italy is ready to collaborate on the great migration issue, which certainly cannot be an Italian problem, neither a French nor a single state problem, but must be addressed at a European level”.
