According to the Italian Ministry of Interior Affairs, the country that sends the most migrants to the Italian coast is Eritrea, a former Italian colony.
The Italian government opened a diplomatic crisis with France by stating that Paris is fueling the migration crisis by “continuing to colonize Africa with the use of a currency” and by “military interference” in Libya and Iraq.
But, according to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the country that sends the most migrants to the Italian coast is Eritrea, a former Italian colony, followed by Iraq. The attacks in Rome represent yet another chapter in the struggle for political leadership in Europe.
Tensions between Paris and Rome have escalated into a diplomatic crisis following the summoning of the Italian ambassador to France for questioning at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris, after controversial statements by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S).
The Supreme Court reaffirmed: citizenship is born with the person.
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He stated that “France continues to have de facto colonies with the use of a currency, which is the 'colonial franc', which it imposes on its former colonies – money that it uses to finance part of its public debt and which weakens the economies those countries.” Di Maio also said that this practice is directly reflected in the number of immigrants arriving on the Italian coast.
The African franc (CFA) is part of a non-binding agreement signed between France and 14 African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad) a few decades ago and which remained in force even after the independence of the colonies.
Paris stated that “the ambassador's summons is undoubtedly a strong act and expressed dissatisfaction with the unacceptable and aggressive phrases directed at France”. The Italian ambassador welcomed the disappointment of the French authorities and will report to Rome as soon as possible.
European Commission: 'empty content' and 'not appropriate'
Di Maio said that Italy will ask European institutions for sanctions on countries that do not decolonize Africa. However, from the office of the French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, a message arrived that the Italian request “is unacceptable and inappropriate”.
Another blunt statement came from Brussels, where the Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Frenchman Pierre Moscovici, stated: “Some statements are made for national use, they seem like provocations, because the content is empty or irresponsible, therefore it is preferable not to give in to provocations” .
After the summons of the Italian ambassador, Di Maio minimized the uneasiness between Rome and Paris. “There is no diplomatic crisis”, said the Italian minister, because he believes “everything is true”.
“France prints paper money for 14 African states, impeding development and contributing to the departure of migrants.” But, according to the Italian Ministry of Interior Affairs, the country that sends the most migrants to the Italian coast is Eritrea, a former Italian colony, followed by Iraq.
Aggressive election campaign
Di Maio's statements take place in the context of the electoral campaign for the renewal of the European Parliament in June. The leader of the 5 Star Movement (M5E), an anti-system party, has governed Italy since July 2018 together with the far-right League.
Recently, both parties declared support for the 'yellow vest' demonstrations in France that have haunted Emmanuel Macron's government for more than two months.
In turn, the leader of the League, also deputy prime minister and minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, accused the French president of governing “against his people” and said that “the sooner he leaves, the better it will be”. Salvini explores the difficulties faced by Macron in competing for political leadership in the bloc.
Over the weekend, Salvini also demanded from France the extradition of 14 Italian citizens wanted for terrorism during the “years of lead” who, according to him, are on the run in French territory. In this case, Salvini is also maneuvering to increase his popularity after the recent extradition of Cesare Battisti.
By RFI
