“Migrants divide the EU”, title in one The Republic this November 12, evoking the latest episodes of “the Paris-Rome dispute” around the ship Oceanic Viking. The 234 migrants it was carrying were finally welcomed in Toulon on Friday after Italy refused to disembark them, in defiance of international law.
“France gets the support of Spain and blocks the border. Disproportionate reaction, according to Meloni. Berlin does not close its doors”, summarizes daily life in the subtitle.
The French Interior Minister, denouncing an Italy “inhuman”suspended the transfer of 3,500 refugees from Italy. Gérald Darmanin has called on other European states to also suspend their participation in the mechanism for the relocation of 8,000 migrants who arrived in countries of first entry into Europe, set up this summer. He also sent 500 agents to strengthen controls at the Franco-Italian border.
Rome seeks the support of Berlin, cold with Paris
“The crisis in relations with France is as profound as it is sudden”, ecrit The Republic. In Rome, the premier of the extreme right “he wants to underline that the very tough position of Paris, which has asked the other EU countries not to accept any more migrants from Italy, is ‘incomprehensible and unjustified’”, indicates the Roman daily.
Giorgia Meloni would be “convinced they were right, and registered as a success the fact that several countries, starting with Germany, have indicated that they do not adhere to the ‘boycott’ invoked by France”.
Rome would thus seek the support of Berlin, which reaffirmed its support for the European relocation mechanism, “provided Italy assumes responsibility for welcoming migrants rescued at sea”. Italy Could Benefit From Cooling Franco-German Relations, As Chancellor Olaf Scholz Knows “to have, on issues such as the Balkans, Africa and Libya in particular, much stronger support in Rome than in Paris”, underlines the Republic.
New measures against NGOs
The position of the new Italian government combines firmness and an outstretched hand, analyzes the newspaper. As for immigrants, “No step backwards: the treatment reserved for other ships approaching Italy will be the same asOceanic Viking. Only migrants in a state of great weakness and in need of care will be welcomed. It’s not all : ‘arrangements will be made’ against NGOs that act illegally, says Meloni, [à savoir] seizure of boats and fines for shipowners”.
The coalition dominated by the far right would like it that way “relaunching some of Matteo Salvini’s famous security decrees” confirmed The print. These decree laws date back to 2018 and 2019, when the head of the League was Minister of the Interior and had already refused to dock a ship, theAcquarium.
An offensive that reflects one of “two moods” coexisting within the Italian executive, according to the newspaper: “the nationalist attitude and that attention not to break relations with European partners”.
“The former found himself completely at ease in this context of dispute which always has the advantage of reinforcing this anti-French sentiment which was largely exacerbated during the electoral campaign”. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister, “Yesterday there was still talk of Macron’s ‘ridiculousness’. And Salvini, last Tuesday […] he had taken credit for a decision, that of landing in Marseilles, which in reality had not yet been taken.
For a common solution in Brussels
“But at the same time Meloni leaves the door of diplomacy open”, keep on The Republic. “We have nothing against France and there is no interest in fueling tensions with Paris” Fazzolari himself declares to the newspaper. “But this case may be an opportunity for Europe to finally address the issue of migrants”.
According to the newspaper, “The goal of the Meloni government remains to arrive at a common European solution, in collaboration with the countries of North Africa, which prevents the departure of boats with migrants on board. The first concrete steps could already be observed on Monday, at the European Council of Foreign Ministers.
“Calming spirits and focusing attention on the numbers: here is the new government strategy”, indicates the Corriere della Sera, specifying that appeasement signals have been sent to Paris. Rome does not want to find itself isolated on a European level, especially on economic issues. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is expected to highlight the need for greater solidarity on Monday, showing how “the agreements that France threatens to tear up have in fact never been respected by EU members”.
And the registry to add: “Revision of the Dublin Treaty, attempted unsuccessfully for years, could come back on the table”.
