Brussels, Nov 11 (EFE) .- The European Commission considers “essential” that there are “good relations” between Italy and France, clouded by migration problems, and is in contact with the two countries at different levels to try to overcome the difficulties ” as soon as possible”.
“What to say as an Italian and as a Commissioner? It is essential that there be good relations between two great countries like Italy and France, at least I hope on my own behalf and on behalf of the Commission that these difficulties can be overcome as soon as possible while respecting also of the European rules”, said the person in charge of Economy of the Community Executive, Paolo Gentiloni.
The Italian politician reacted in this way at the press conference on the autumn macroeconomic forecasts in the eurozone when asked about the tensions that arose between Italy and France due to the landing the day before in a French port of 234 migrants who had been rejected by the authorities Italian.
France decided to host “on an exceptional basis” the humanitarian ship Ocean Viking with those 234 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, but warned that it will “take the consequences” of Italy’s refusal to let it dock, will take sanction measures against Rome and wants the EU does too.
The French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, warned in a press conference that “there will be extremely strong consequences in the bilateral relationship” and in that of Italy with the European Union.
Darmanin advanced that France is going to organize “in the next few days” a meeting with the European Commission and with Germany to “draw the consequences of the Italian attitude” because, according to the spokesman for the French Government, Olivier Véran, “France wants the answer be European”.
“We do not have any confirmed meeting date but, of course, we are in contact with France and Italy at different levels,” Community spokesperson for the Interior and Immigration, Anitta Hipper, said today at the European Commission’s daily press conference.
Hipper limited himself to recalling that the European Commission requested on Wednesday the disembarkation “immediate, in the nearest safe place” of all the people rescued and on board the ship Ocean Viking, which at that time was Italy, “and it has already happened”, said.
The Italian Prime Minister, the far-right Giorgia Meloni, today described France’s reaction as “aggressive” and “disproportionate” and called for “a European solution to be built” to the migration problem.
Asked about this verbal exchange in the last few hours between the French and Italian authorities, the main spokesman for the European Commission, Eric Mamer, settled that “we have no comments to make on the statements of one and the other.” EFE
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EC considers “essential” that there are “good relations” between Italy and France