Germany gets more Italian border controls at Brenner

(ANSA) - Bolzano, September 2 - There has been an intensification of border controls at the Brenner Pass at the request of Germany, local authorities from Alto Adige said Wednesday. Alto Adige is to take in 300 to 400 migrants bound for Bavaria after the German region requested emergency logistical help to deal with a massive wave of refugees arriving from the Balkans.
    Alto Adige has offered to host the migrants for a few days "as a temporary measure to allow Bavaria to regroup and face the imminent emergency", according to a note from the Province of Bolzano.
    Italy, France and Germany want a "strong response" from the EU on migrants, foreign ministers Paolo Gentiloni, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Laurent Fabius said in a joint document sent to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, asking that the issue be discussed at a foreign ministers' summit in Luxembourg on September 4-5.
    Those attacking Brussels for what it intends to do on immigration should look at the Agenda presented in May, "everything is written there, we are decided to move ahead with courage and speed", said Margaritis Schinas, EU Commission spokesman, talking about the permanent reallocation mechanism for crises.
    The spokesman cited a comment of European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker at the end of the summit of EU leaders at the end of June regarding decisions on immigration policies: "timely but insufficient", he said.
    "Now the moment has come to complete the framework and we are determined to do it", said Schinas, referring to legal immigration channels and boosting the role of Frontex to speed up the repatriation of economic migrants.
    Today the group of commissioners meets for a two-day seminar in Genval, close to Brussels, and immigration will be at the center of the gathering. The State of the Union to be held by Juncker on September 9 at the European Parliament will also focus on that.
    Premier Matteo Renzi said Wednesday it was time for Europe to "wake up" on the migrant crisis. "Its reputation is at stake," he said. Renzi called for a "joint policy" combining shelter for refugees with repatriation for economic migrants and "saving human lives".
    The European Court of Justice Wednesday ruled against the Italian law that imposes charges of 80 to 200 euros on non-European citizens for issuing or renewing short term sojourn permits. The judges said the cost is "disproportionate compared to the purposes of EU regulations, and can create obstacles to people exercising their rights".
    The court was ruling on an appeal from Italian trade union CGIL.