2011-04-26 16:26:34

France and Italy ask for Schengen review


Italy and France have sent a letter to the European Union, asking for a revision of the Schengen border treaty that permits passport-free travel through Europe – a move they announced a a joint press conference following a meeting in Rome on Tuesday. The request comes as the two countries work to manage the massive influx of North African migrants, most of whom are Tunisians taking advantage of a breakdown in border policing at home in order to reach European shores. In their letter to the EU, the two leaders called for a strengthening of the Union’s border control aency, Frontex, and said the revision must include the “possibility of re-establishing temporary internal border controls in case of exceptional difficulties.”

Sarkozy told reporters, “We want Schengen to survive – but in order to survive, Schengen
must be reformed.” Italy’s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi discussed a number of international developments during his remarks, including Italy’s increased involvement in the NATO operation in Libya. Berlusconi explained that the decision will involve Italian aircraft in the conduct of airstrikes on selected military targets, with a view to protecting civilian populations.

Both Italy and France want the Libyan oppositionTransitional National Council to gain access to frozen Libyan assets as well as to revenue from Libyan oil sales. Italy is to host a May 5 meeting on NATO's Libya campaign in Rome to discuss increasing diplomatic and economic pressure on Gadhafi as well as providing additional support to the opposition.

On the question of Syria, both Berlusconi and Sarkozy expressed concerns over the government's crackdown on demonstrators, though they were reticent about the feasibility of achieving international consensus over military intervention there.

Listen to Chris Altieri's report: RealAudioMP3








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.