Roundup: Italy, France strike reconciliatory note over migrant crisis

Italy and France must be united by the principles of solidarity and responsibility in facing the deepening migrant crisis and also apply related rules, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and French President Francois Hollande agreed at the world exposition here on Sunday.

Growing flows of migrants fleeing North African poverty-stricken nations into southern Italy via the Mediterranean has reached alarming proportions in recent months. More than 60,000 migrants have landed in Italy since the beginning of 2015.

The situation caused tension between Italy and France in the past days after France refused the entry of migrants from the northern border close to the Italian town of Ventimiglia. Around 100 migrants camped on seaside rocks in protest against the denial.

According to the EU's Dublin Regulation, the country where an asylum seeker arrives is responsible for processing the claim.

"We hope there is the possibility to identify and orient them at refugee centers in Italy ... those who come here for economic reasons cannot stay forever and have to be repatriated with the help of other EU countries," Hollande said, adding that his country is ready for support.

He said France and Italy share the views on the migrant issue, although from time to time there can be some tensions.

Meanwhile, Hollande stressed it is not fair that Italy, Greece and Malta have to bear the full weight of the migrant crisis because they are located in the south of Europe.

At the EU summit on Thursday, where the issue of the migrant crisis will be central, every member country will have to make a commitment based on its geographic, economic and political conditions, said Hollande.

Hollande also said Europe needs to focus on the root causes of the migrant crisis, firstly in Syria and Iraq, where 2 millions refugees "of course will end up knocking at the door of Europe."

"We have to find political solutions in Syria and Iraq, and also to intervene in Eritrea and West Africa ... these departures are encouraged by the unrest in Libya, where we are working to have a government and cooperate to block traffickers," he said.

Renzi agreed that the Dublin Regulation shall be respected, although he underlined it is clearly penalizing for Italy.

Solidarity and responsibility among European countries must be at the center of the debate on the migrant issue, a global challenge "which has not started yesterday and will not end tomorrow," Renzi said.

He said Italy is part of the EU since its foundation, and together with France and other countries has created a "community of destiny."

"We are ready to respect the Dublin Agreement. We have done it alone for some time, now we hope we can do together with this community," Renzi said. Endi