Italian Foreign Minister Roberto Maroni this evening appeared to water down claims that Italy would repatriate all migrants who arrived in Lampedusa, telling a press conference when asked, that Italy would send back “all the migrants we can send back”.
The press conference was held at the end of a meeting in Rome of the Quadro Group, which brought together the foreign ministers of Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta to discuss illegal migration.
Maltese Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said the ministers had signed a document which would be sent to the Czech presidency of the EU and the European Commission.
They also agreed to act together at an informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers next Thursday to ensure that immigration remained on the EU agenda and the Immigration Pact was implemented effectively.
The document focuses on the many facets of the illegal immigration problem – including maritime patrols, asylum and repatriation - and also other issues affecting the Mediterranean, including drug trafficking.
See also:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090113/local/quadro-group-report-stresses-solidarity-and-burden-sharing