Italian Foreign Minister Paolo
Gentiloni on Wednesday said that although he believes all
countries "have the right to make their own national decisions",
he is "critical" of Hungary's decision to hold a referendum on
mandatory EU migrant quotas.
"I don't believe that Europe today can manage the migrant
crisis with single countries delegating decisions to their
citizens that disrupt common ones taken at a European level,"
Gentiloni said, adding that it could create "precedents that
could be negative or even dangerous".
Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner agreed that
"we all want a European solution, but the problem is when that
might happen".
"A European solution takes time. What's needed now are
national measures," Mikl-Leitner said.
Austria hosted a migration conference Wednesday with Balkan
nations, which Mikl-Leitner said was aimed finding ways to stop
the influx of migrants.
Greece, one of the main first entry points for migrants
into Europe, criticised Austria for not inviting officials from
Athens to attend.
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said
Greece is putting measures in place to strengthen its border
management after the EU commission evaluating Greek management
of Schengen borders found "serious shortcomings".
"Rather important progress has been made on hotspots, but
let's not deceive ourselves, more efforts must be made,"
Dombrovskis said.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday called the
migrant integration process "a historic task".
"Now more now than ever, Europe must recognise difficulties
and struggles in the face of the economic crisis, financial
instability, migration and wars in the Middle East, and strong
imbalances in wealth and opportunities," Mattarella wrote in a
letter sent to a European Parliament conference commemorating
the 100th anniversary of the birth of politician Aldo Moro,
slain by the Red Brigades in 1978.
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