- Washington “follows with interest” Morocco’s openness onto Africa (John Kerry)Posted 11 years ago
- The trial of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius opened in Pretoria on Monday.Posted 11 years ago
- USA welcomes efforts of King Mohammed VI in MaliPosted 11 years ago
- Egypt’s population reaches 94 millionPosted 11 years ago
- Mugabe celebrates his 90thPosted 11 years ago
- Moroccan Monarch to Build a Perinatal Clinic in BamakoPosted 11 years ago
- King Mohammed VI handed a donation of bovine semen for the benefit of Malian breeders.Posted 11 years ago
- Moroccan King’s strategic tour to Africa: Strengthening the will of pan African Solidarity and stimulating the south-south cooperation mechanisms over the continentPosted 12 years ago
- Senior al-Qaida leader killed in AlgeriaPosted 12 years ago
- Libya: The trial of former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi AliPosted 12 years ago
France and Italy to defuse tensions over migrants from North Africa
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is due to meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Tuesday to discuss tensions over migrants from North Africa.Italy has angered France by granting visas to thousands of migrants, allowing them to travel across Europe’s border-free Schengen zone.
About 25,000 migrants have arrived in southern Italy so far this year, many driven by the unrest in North Africa. Many of the migrants are Tunisian and want to join relatives in France.
European officials say it is hoped President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Berlusconi can put aside their differences and agree joint proposals to take to Brussels when they meet in Rome on Tuesday.
Among the ideas being discussed are ways of reinstating border controls if an external crisis triggers a flood of migrants.
France “does not want to suspend Schengen,” but “review the safeguard clauses in particular situations,” Henri Guaino, a special adviser to Mr Sarkozy, said.
Italy Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the Schengen accords cannot be questioned” – but added that some kind of “technical control” could be introduced to make the treaty fit to current realities.
Migrants heading to Europe from North Africa often arrive at the Italian island of Lampedusa, about 120km (75 miles) off the Tunisian coast. The upheavals across the Arab world have triggered a huge wave of migration, and Italy has complained it is being left to cope with the influx alone.
Earlier this month Italy and France agreed to joint sea and air patrols to try to stop African migrants reaching Europe.