“Their accusations don’t hold up. From France now we want respect »- Corriere.it

France welcomes migrants, but blocks the agreement on 3,500 relocations from Italy. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, you who are undersecretary to the presidency of the Council, with responsibility for the implementation of the program, tell us now what will happen?

“It won’t change much. France had only accepted 38 relocations in 2020 ».

But it also invites others to do the same. It was worth it?

“There is a decisive point: respect for Italian, European and international law”.

For 234 migrants?

“The problem is not the single ship. But the principle: the EU, always attentive to the quibble, legitimizes illegal behavior ».

France accuses Italy of violating the laws.
«But according to what principle? The rules say that those who have rescued castaways have the right to disembark in the nearest port that is not us, but Tunisia. Because?”

A safer port?

“But why is Tunisia reliable for repatriation agreements and not for reception? So it is said: it is better to have them land in the EU’s first landing country. Well, but it’s not us: it’s Malta. Apologies. Any argument used against us juridically does not exist ».

What about the asylum requests he was asked to make on board?

«The commander of a ship is a public officer, he can marry. Why can’t he have an application filled out? The truth is that the country of first reception would then be that of the ship’s flag ».

What do you ask the French?

“Respect. We want to keep ourselves illegally because it is so convenient. It is easier to tell your public opinion that migrants who have entered legally are welcomed rather than illegally ”.

France accuses Italy of being “inhuman”.

«They say that migration is a right. But it is only valid for those who migrate to Italy: so much so that the main dossier concerns how to stop secondary landings ».

There are countries with much higher quotas of immigrants.

“But with a different composition. From the arrivals arrive, 80% of men plus 10% of 16-18 year olds and only 10% of women. Germany has mostly brought in households. The flow decrees serve to facilitate integration: even with equivalent shares of men and women “..

You invoke “common sense”. In what?

«We give 6 billion to Erdogan’s Turkey to block the migratory flows that through the Balkans arrive mostly in Germany, while for the whole of North Africa we spend only 500 million. It should be rebalanced ».

France threatens retaliation. Have you wondered what it refers to?

«To the money of the PNRR. When he says we are among the EU’s largest beneficiaries, he talks about that. And he means: since you have those funds you have to keep quiet ».

Well, wasn’t it the case to avoid it now?

“What France is doing is very serious. There is no connection between the PNRR and forcing Italy, in violation of international norms, to take charge of the migrants ”.

Yes, but why raise the case right now? For an exhibition of sovereignty?

“No, out of respect for that 20-day-old child who arrived dead in his mother’s arms because of this management, wanted by the left, which pushes the desperate to get on the boats and arrive here, where national borders no longer existed but no longer existed. he had the courage to say it “..

Yes, but the rave, the ships, the clash with the EU. There are those who suspect that you artfully raise fuss. It is not so?

“No. We just don’t like political begging.”

Begging?

«I know that the political level is so down to earth that for many the important thing is to break it down and be able to pick up what you can in terms of an electoral and personal match. They don’t understand who is trying to do more. But Giorgia Meloni said it: she is there to try to do the good of the country. If it is not possible, the experience ends here “