Italy threatens to give Schengen visas to migrants as EU dispute deepens

Source: The Guardian

Europe is embroiled in a worsening feud over how to cope with mass migration across the Mediterranean from Libya, with Italy threatening to issue migrants with temporary visas that would allow them to enter other EU countries if no equitable deal is struck to share the burden.

Brussels is struggling to effect a new quota system for migrants, and EU interior ministers are due to meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday to try to hammer out a response to controversial proposals from the European Commission that amount to the beginnings of a coherent and shared immigration policy.

With tens of thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean, most of them heading for Italy, Rome appears outraged at the European infighting and is threatening to retaliate.

East European states reject the commission’s proposals, Britain and Denmark are opting out; Germany supports them; France, Spain and Portugal are lukewarm; and Italy is furious that it may be left to deal with the influx on its southern shores.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/15/italy-threatens-to-give-schengen-visas-to-migrants-as-eu-dispute-deepens