"The first testing ground is the issue of immigration, to which our government obtained a large part of the February extraordinary council dedicated. We are facing an emergency that is becoming structural, this definition is the most realistic picture" .
This was stated by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in view of the European Council of 23 and 24 March.
"I want to reiterate it: before any hypothetical right to emigrate, every human being has the right not to be forced to migrate in search of a better life. It is exactly the aspect that Europe and the West have culpably neglected in recent years".
The prime minister said this underlining that "in the aftermath of Cutro's misfortune I wrote to the president of the European Commission, to the president of the European Council and to the EU Council. To reiterate that we cannot wait any longer. We cannot wait helpless for the next shipwreck, danger inherent in trips organized by unscrupulous smugglers. The borders of Italy are the borders of Europe".
The EU indications ratify "the principle of the involvement of the flag states of NGO ships in Sar operations,
which no longer have to burden only the port states.
The flag states that finance NGOs must assume the responsibilities that the law of the sea assigns them".
"This government is used to defending the national interest: we have never made a secret of wanting to increase its appropriations in military spending, as previous governments did, perhaps stealthily, without putting our face on it. We stand up for it, convinced that respecting commitments is vital to protect national sovereignty. Freedom has a price: if you are unable to defend yourself, others will do it but they will do so by imposing a price".
This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in communications to the Senate in view of the European Council.
"Fiercely criticize the government, me, the choices we make, the measures, our possible shortcomings but, please, stop for a second before damaging Italy, because this makes the difference".
ANSA agency
EU letter to the 27, openings in Rome on migrants - Politics
The letter speaks of enhanced cooperation, search and rescue, solidarity, relocation.
Von der Leyen: "A 200 million support measure for reception" (ANSA)