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Italy granted emergency funds by EU to handle exodus of Tunisian migrants
by Joseph Ernest February 15, 2011
Newscast Media -- After the successful revolution in Tunisia that resulted in the ousting of former President Ben Ali, Tunisians are expanding their horizons by migrating to Italy to seek a better life. However, the sudden influx of immigrants is taking a toll on Italy, which has prompted the European Union to avail emergency funds to the country to deal with the unexpected guests.
Italian authorities say 5,200 people have landed on the tiny southern island of Lampedusa since mid-January. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that they had "identified a comprehensive series of measures as well as quick financial assistance."
"Emergency financial envelopes" from existing EU funds for refugees and border control are to be mobilized, officials in Brussels said. It put no figure on the funds offered. Earlier on Tuesday, the German government rejected a proposal that Tunisian refugees in Italy be automatically apportioned to other countries in the EU.
France on the other hand, hasn't been too receptive of the Tunisians. French Industry Minister Eric Besson said Monday that France will not tolerate any illegal immigration from Tunisia. Speaking on French television, he said that some of the 5,000 Tunisians who have arrived in Italy this past week might be eligible for political asylum, but others would have to provide proof that they are eligible.
"There can be no tolerance for illegal immigration," Besson, a former Immigration Minister, told Canal+ television.
"Until now the system of patrolling the coasts of Northern African has worked and we want to re-establish the technique, which had reduced illegal immigration to zero until a month ago," he said as he arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus, the first stop in a tour of the region.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that at least four people had drowned off the coast of Lampedusa, the small Italian island where most refugees have headed. In response to the influx of at least 5,000 Tunisian immigrants, Rome has declared a "humanitarian emergency."
The Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said he expected a further 80,000 to arrive in the coming months, although no fresh landings of refugee boats have been reported in the last 24 hours. Italian authorities have started to move refugees from Lampedusa to other camps around Italy, but facilities are bursting at the seams.
Maroni has called on Frontex to step up controls in the Mediterranean and to cover part of the cost of deporting migrants, and for EU members to share the burden of accommodating refugees and asylum seekers. Maroni has also requested 100 million euros ($135 million) from the European Commission to cover some of the costs of handling the arrivals. Add Comments>>
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