Monday, July 31, 2006

Italy's Humanitarian Immigrant Amnesty Program Criticized by EU

The ANNOTICO Report

Italy's European EU partners criticize Italy frequently for Italy attempting to protect their borders, from "boat people"  from North Africa 

Those critics seem so uninformed, and do not realize that Italy has by far the longest  coastline facing North Africa of any European country. For instance, Italy has 2700 miles, Spain has 800 miles; and France has 300 miles.

But even more important, the more popular points of entry are the Italian islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both islands are closer to Tunisia than to Sicily!!!!  Pantelleria is 50 miles from Tunisia, and Lampedusa is 100 miles.

Now those EU partners criticize Italy for permitting Amnesty for some of those who have successfully inundated Italy's coastline. 

It is SO easy to criticize. My 10 year old grand nephew is a great critic. But like the EU he never seems to offer any solutions. :)                           EU might appeal to NATO to assist in the blockading of Africa????

 

ITALY WARNED OVER IMMIGRANT AMNESTY

EU Observer

By Honor Mahony

July 31, 2006

The European Commission has issued a warning to Italy that it could face EU sanctions if its move to legalise up to 350,000 immigrants breaches union law.

Justice commissioner Franco Frattini said that the Italian authorities would have to check each one of the thousands of applications for regularisation to make sure they comply with EU law.

"I am asking the Interior Minister Giulio D'Amato to examine one by one the 350,000 requests for regularisation from immigrant workers," said Mr Frattini in Rome, according to news agency AFP.

"Checks are needed to determine if these are fictitious demands or if they effectively correspond to a work offer and lodging. Otherwise, European Union sanctions are envisaged," he said.

Taking figures from a 2004 survey, the justice commissioner pointed out that Italy had a higher than average amount of people working on the black market.

"Italy had 16-17 percent working 'on the black', compared to a European! average of four to five percent: the fight against illegal immigration also has to be seen in this light."

Mr Frattini's warning comes after Rome last week announced that it intended to put in place a quota of 350,000 non-EU citizens who would be able to legalise their status in Italy as well as regularising more than 500,000 workers already in the country.

This is not the first time the EU has warned member states about these kinds of moves.

Brussels grumbled when Spain last year put in place an amnesty allowing thousands of immigrants to be legalised saying governments should make these steps in a more harmonised manner.

Madrid's surprise move was also criticised by some member states leading to calls for an early warning system to be put in place when governments are considering immigration procedures that will affect other countries.

 

The ANNOTICO Reports are Archived at:

Italia USA: http://www.ItaliaUSA.com (Formerly Italy at St Louis)

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net