Italy protests as France blocks migrants’ train

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini directed his embassy in Paris yesteday to lodge a protest with France after it cancelled trains due to cross the border to thwart migration demonstrations.

Rome wanted “clarifications on measures taken (by Paris) which appear to be illegal and in clear violation of European principles,” the minister said.

Mr Frattini was reacting to France’s decision earlier yesterday to temporarily cancel all passenger trains due to cross from Italy on the main line between the countries in order to thwart a protest against immigration controls.

A group of French and Italian activists had planned to board what they had dubbed “The Train of Dignity” in the Italian border town of Ventimiglia and cross into France to protest the measures.

But staff and information panels in the station indicated that all departing trains had been cancelled. A French controller told reporters this was on the orders of the French regional governor on the other side of the border.

Furious, a group of protesters marched out of the station towards the French consulate in Ventimiglia chanting: “Freedom, freedom!”

Around 60 mainly Tunisian migrants were also at the station seeking passage to France, and were given sandwiches and drinks by support groups.

Service resumed late yesterday afternoon after several hours of interruption, the French interior ministry said, adding that “at no time was the border between France and Italy closed”.

Italy and France have been tightening immigration controls in recent weeks, fearing an influx of North African refugees from the revolutions and fighting in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

Earlier this month Rome announced it would grant six-month residency permits to more than 20,000 Tunisian migrants, which could allow them to travel freely in Europe’s border-free Schengen area.

The announcement sparked diplomatic protests from Germany and France.

German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich stressed it was up to Italy to deal with the wave of migrants and find a solution with Tunisian authorities to stop people from reaching Europe’s shores.