“France does not unload its problems on us. Now Brussels should make a code of conduct “- Corriere.it

from Monica Guerzoni
Foreign Minister: private entities do not determine our policy
Minister Antonio Tajani, will the government be able to mend the rift with France?
“We have posed a political problem on the issue of migrants, we did not want to create any controversy. There was a disproportionate reaction on the part of France, also for their internal political issues. We want stronger European action, because the seven thousand kilometers of Italian coast are the southern border of Europe. Also Manfred Weberthe president of the EPP, has proved us right ».
Will you bring a plan on welcoming migrants to the EU Council of Foreign Ministers tomorrow?
«It is Europe that must make a plan, not Italy. We need a shared choice on relocation. We will address the issue of immigration with great serenity and determination, because the problem has been going on for years and we absolutely must solve it. I will ask which agreement says that the Italian ones are the ports where all migrants must disembark. I am not aware that it exists ».
The government’s proposal?
«We must prevent the landings and when the traffickers’ boats are taken, the engine is destroyed. We need a real European Marshall Plan for Africa and agreements with Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Niger and other Sahel countries. In 2050, there will be almost three billion Africans. The problem must be solved upstream by tackling climate change, disease, poverty, wars, terrorism ».
The case of the Ocean Viking ship with 234 migrants triggered a diplomatic incident with our main ally, who would not have appreciated Salvini’s declaration, “the air has changed”, and his “firmness pays”. Is Italy now isolated in Europe?
“We are not at all isolated. Germany and Luxembourg will respect the pacts, as we do. And Greece, Malta and Cyprus are also in solidarity with Italy, who have signed a joint declaration by the ministers of the interior because they have the same problem ».
Yet France accuses you of not showing solidarity
.
“How do you tell a nation that has welcomed 90,000 migrants since the beginning of the year that it is not human? The French government does not dump its internal problems on us. Italy has always done its part, we ask that Europe do it too. We are willing to accept, but we need a change of pace on the part of the other Member States. In the case of Turkey there has been a solution, now it can also be found for Italy ».
In Paris they claim that “the relationship of trust is broken”. Are you worried about relations with France?
«We do not want to make a controversy with France, we have not damaged them and we have always been correct. But we, with a serene confrontation, must defend Italy’s reasons. The principle that NGOs agree and take migrants on board cannot pass ”.
NGOs deny that they are a pull factor. “The Italian government does not say this, but a report from the European agency Frontex in which it is written that NGOs meet with smugglers in the middle of the Mediterranean. It is not that they rescue castaways, they get them on board and unload them from us, for purposes that we cannot understand ».
Does the tug-of-war with NGOs have political reasons?
“If anything, from them. On this issue there is no right, left or center, there are rules to be respected. We are asking for more Europe, we are asking the EU Commission to draw up a code of conduct for NGOs ”.
Will you go back to the Salvini decrees, the fines and the seizure of non-compliant ships?
“We do not want private subjects to determine the migration and asylum policy between the member states.”
Was Paris wrong to accuse Italy of violating European rules?
“We respected the rules and kept our commitments, while others didn’t. Let us pose a problem concerning relocation. Thirteen EU countries have pledged to relocate 8,000 of the 90,000 people who arrived in 2022 and do you know how many were relocated? 0.13%, that is 117 “.
Will there be French retaliation on the NRP?
“I don’t see what retaliation France could ever make.”
The premier on Tuesday thanked the Macron government after 8 hours of silence, in which the news that they would have docked the Ocean Viking “had not been denied”. What happened in those hours between Palazzo Chigi, Farnesina and Eliseo?
«On Monday, President Meloni and President Macron had a meeting in Sharm, the evening after Palazzo Chigi expressed satisfaction with a note. End. I was on an official visit with President Mattarella and in those hours we also solved the case of Alessia Piperno. There is nothing we have to justify ourselves for ».
How do you interpret Mattarella’s words on the need to maintain the cohesion of the country and the EU?
“The president said something sacrosanct. On immigration we need to find a European solution and intervene in Africa. Pope Francis said the same ».
Berlusconi would have welcomed them all, the Ocean Viking migrants …
“Let’s talk about the reconstruction of a dinner. In any case, speaking of solidarity, that day we welcomed 600 ”.
Does Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson bring peace closer?
«I hope we can take some further steps forward also with the intervention of the United States, China and Turkey. I hope everyone pushes for a negotiation, but it must be a just peace. The Russian offensive must cease and the independence of Ukraine must be safeguarded ”.
Is Meloni’s mission to Kiev imminent?
“Let’s see, it depends on the military situation. He will decide the premier, with Zelensky, whether to go to Kiev and when ».
Can Di Maio become a special EU envoy to the Gulf? “Di Maio called me and told me he was in the triad, but he is not the candidate of the Italian government. The decision rests with the EU high representative Josep Borrel ».