EU remains divided on migrants as Italy struggles with influx

The EU failed to make concrete progress on measures to tackle the migration crisis in the Mediterranean on Tuesday amid mounting indications that Italy is struggling to cope with tens of thousands of refugees arriving on its shores.

As France and Austria began implementing border checks to prevent mostly African and Syrian migrants entering their territory through Italy, EU member states remained divided on how to deal with the migration crisis at a key meeting in Luxembourg, with a number of member states opposing a mandatory quota system for refugees.

The recent surge in deaths in the Mediterranean has prompted the European Commission to unveil the most radical reform of EU migration policy in its history.

While its proposal to resettle 20,000 refugees from outside Europe has been supported by most countries, its plans to "redistribute" 60,000 migrants who have already entered EU territory through Italy and Greece has been staunchly opposed by a number of countries.

Italy has warned that it does not have the resources to cope with the migrants arriving on its shores daily, including those picked up by ships such as the Irish vessel LÉ Eithne. To date the Irish ship has rescued almost 1,500 migrants from small vessels and makeshift dinghies in the waters between Libya and Europe.

Asylum

Speaking in Luxembourg on Tuesday, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney rejected suggestions that countries involved in the search and rescue operations should consider granting asylum to the migrants their vessels pick up, particularly given the distance between Ireland and the Mediterranean.

“Clearly there are huge numbers to deal with and a lot of people have sympathy with Italy in terms of the pressure they are under . . . Ireland is contributing in a very practical way,” he said, adding that a collective response to the crisis was needed.

Amid reports that Britain may withdraw its naval vessel HMS Bulwark from search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean next month, Mr Coveney said Ireland would maintain a naval presence off Italy "at least until the end of September".

Almost 60,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, with the numbers expected to increase in the coming months.

Italian officials warned that they could issue migrants with temporary visas enabling them to travel on to other countries in the EU if a more equitable arrangement between EU member states was not reached.

"If the European Council chooses solidarity, then good. If it doesn't, we have a Plan B ready but that would be a wound inflicted on Europe," prime minister Matteo Renzi said earlier this week.

Unfair burden

Italy, Greece and Malta have long argued that they are unfairly taking the burden of migrants arriving in Europe. Ireland, Britain and Denmark have automatic opt-outs from the legislation. While Britain has said it will not participate in either the resettlement or relocation plan, Ireland is resettling hundreds of refugees, but has not yet decided whether to opt in to any relocation plan that might be agreed.

Speaking in Luxembourg on Tuesday, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said that any relocation plan would have to be agreed by the cabinet, Dáil and Seanad, adding that Ireland favoured a voluntary rather than mandatory relocation proposal.

Underlining Britain's opposition to any EU resettlement or relocation plan, British home secretary Theresa May said that a return policy must form part of the response to the migration crisis. People should be returned to North Africa or elsewhere, to their home countries, she said, so they saw there was no benefit in trying to cross the Mediterranean.