“Asylum seekers are welcomed, economic migrants are repatriated”. This is the prime minister's line Matteo Renzi on the theme of reception, reaffirmed today at the meeting with the Regions on the immigration situation in Italy, in view of the EU Council scheduled for today: "We need solutions for migrants that meet ethical requirements and criteria of reasonableness".
Today's meeting, in the setting of Palazzo Chigi, is chaired by Renzi together with the Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfano. Together with them also the undersecretary for EU Policies Sandro Gozi, the undersecretary for the presidency of the Council Claudio De Vincenti and the undersecretary for regional affairs Gianclaudio Bressa. A large delegation of governors and mayors were present: from Roberto Maroni to Giuliano Pisapia, including Vincenzo de Luca, Giovanni Toti, Piero Fassino and Luca Zaia.
And the governor of Veneto himself used very strong words on the matter: “The prefects – he declared Zaia – they must rebel, respect the requests of the territories, represent, in my case, the Venetians to the end and no longer answer the phone to the government. On immigration we are paying for the incapacity of a government that did not realize that in 2012 it had 13 immigrants, 43 in 2013, 170 in 2014 and 200 today”.
A position also taken by the governor of Lombardy Robert Maroni: “I hope that finally there will be repatriations and the blocking of immigrants' departures. It seems to me that strongly negative signals are coming from Europe, I'm curious to hear the premier's opinion. The line we have indicated remains: we are not available to welcome new ones because we are fully booked".
For the president of the conference of the regions Sergio Chiamparino “the meeting was positive: it is necessary to shorten the procedures for asylum seekers, 6 months must be the maximum limit also to be credible in Europe. We have given the willingness to build regional hubs together on the basis of indications that we have already sent to the Interior Ministry". Chiamparino then attacks the centre-right presidents: “Hmade statements even before the meeting began that are quite prejudicial."
On the same wavelength too Deborah Serracchiani e Pisapia, who have appealed so that "avoid demagoguery" on such a delicate issue, "but find solutions that combine solidarity, legality, safety for citizens and decorum for our cities".
For Renzi, on the other hand, a common solution to such a serious problem must be found. To do it "we need sharing in Europe. And the more compact Italy appears, the better. We are a serious, solid country, whose response to the issue of immigration must be shared and joint". "For the first time – continued the premier – Europe recognizes the immigration problem, a window of opportunity is opening up". A new meeting between the premier and the regions will be reconvened in 15 days.
