Migration: Extraordinary Council of EU Interior Ministers on 25 November

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The Czech presidency clarified via Twitter that it had convened an “emergency council of internal affairs” during which “ministers will discuss the current situation on all migration routes”.

The European Union’s interior ministers are going to hold an emergency meeting next Friday, November 25 in Brussels to discuss immigration policy, following the outbreak of the French-Italian diplomatic crisis over the reception of an NGO ship rescuing migrants at sea, it was announced yesterday Thursday the Czech presidency of the European Council.

Rome’s refusal to allow the Ocean Viking, with 230 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, to dock, which was eventually accepted by France, sparked a crisis with Paris. The French government called for “European initiatives” for “better control of (the EU’s) external borders and solidarity mechanisms”.

The Czech presidency clarified via Twitter that it had convened an “emergency council of internal affairs” during which “ministers will discuss the current situation on all migration routes”.

Immigration remains a bone of contention for the 27. They continue to be divided over what solidarity mechanisms should be put in place to relieve frontline countries of receiving migrants and refugees, mainly in the Mediterranean.

Central and Eastern European member states are hostile to any resettlement of migrants within their territories, while the Dublin Regulation stipulates that each asylum application is examined in the country where the applicant entered the EU.

Next Friday’s emergency home affairs council is expected to bring up again the issue of reforming asylum rules, paralyzed since 2015, border protection and solidarity mechanisms, a European diplomat summarized to AFP.

EU policy towards the countries of origin and transit of migrants, as well as the role of NGOs, which have been “tooled by traffickers”, will be at the heart of the talks, according to the same source.

“The tensions between France and Italy are causing a problem, we have to neutralize them,” he added.

French government spokesman Olivier Veran called Italy’s refusal to welcome the Ocean Viking “unacceptable”. He demanded that the European Union express itself “as soon as possible” on the “consequences” of this decision.

Announcing Paris’ decision to allow the ship to dock, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmamin said that, in retaliation, the French government had suspended, “with immediate effect,” the reception of 3,500 migrants currently in Italy.

The head of Italy’s far-right coalition government, Giorgia Meloni, spoke of an “aggressive” and “unjustified” reaction, recalling that her country has welcomed almost 90,000 migrants since the start of the year.

RES-EMP

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