Europe was divided Monday over how to deal with an exodus of migrants fleeing unrest in north Africa, as Rome clashed with neighbours refusing to take in boatpeople pouring into Italy. Italy has urged its European Union neighbours to help it cope with a "human tsunami" that has overwhelmed the tiny island of Lampedusa since revolutions erupted in Tunisia and Libya earlier this year.
"Today we will see if Europe can be united and show solidarity, or if it is merely a geographic space," Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni told reporters as he arrived for the talks. Rome sparked a diplomatic row last week when it announced it would grant six-month residency permits to more than 20,000 Tunisian migrants, which could allow them to travel freely in Europe's border-free Schengen area.
Officials issued the first permits on Sunday despite French and German objections. France tightened the control of documents at the border with Italy, while Germany and Austria warned they could follow suit. German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said it was up to Italy to deal with the wave of migrants and find a solution with Tunisian authorities to stop people from reaching Europe's shores.
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