France blocks Italian trains carrying migrants

[Gerald]

Authorities in France temporarily blocked trains from Italy in an attempt to stop north African migrants from entering the country.

Trains were stopped at the border for hours - prompting Italy to launch an official complaint with France. Services were later resumed.

Italy has angered France by giving temporary resident permits to thousands of Tunisian migrants.The permits allow them to travel freely in many European countries.

The Italian foreign ministry said the French move was "illegitimate and in clear violation of general European principles".

Schengen infringement?

Speaking earlier on Sunday, Maurizio Furia, a spokesman for the Italian rail company, said that trains were not being allowed to pass into Menton, France, from the Italian border station of Ventimiglia.

The BBC's Hugh Schofield says a demonstration in support of the Tunisian immigrants had been planned, in which some 300 protesters had planned to ride what they dubbed "the train of dignity".

Because of the closure, the demonstration was unable to take place.

France has said migrants have to prove they can support themselves financially and has set up patrols on the Italian border.

But Italy says that France's actions are not in line with the EU's Schengen passport-free travel zone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13109631


Note: 17 April 2011 Last updated at 20:13 GMT

[Fish In The Water]

Earlier this month, Italy and France agreed to launch sea and air patrols to try to prevent the influx of thousands of people from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

So if I read this right, they (France AND Italy) we're both trying to keep them out, but now that they're in, Italy would rather see them in France.

Interesting politics at play here...

[MH]

Originally Posted by Fish In The Water

So if I read this right, they (France AND Italy) we're both trying to keep them out, but now that they're in, Italy would rather see them in France.

Interesting politics at play here...

As far as i know one of the deals they used to have with Daffy was to keep N African emigrants under control.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by MH

As far as i know one of the deals they used to have with Daffy was to keep N African emigrants under control.

"Under control" easier said an done,

As far as i know one of the deals they used to have with Daffy was to keep N African emigrants under control.

The deal was to accept and hold shipments of illegal immigrants if the people were not from Libya.
Think of it as an offshore detention center, a European holding prison in Africa.

[Gerald]

There seems to be a collection point for people

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by MH

As far as i know one of the deals they used to have with Daffy

A deal that more and more turned into blackmailing.

[Gerald]

This is just the beginning ... there will be a similar situation, which is probably already happening at this moment

A deal that more and more turned into blackmailing.

A deal that said you can keep the people we have no actual obligation to take unless you increase the fees you pay to keep them in our prisons
No blackmailing there at all, but I suppose the blackmailing was really hidden between the lines in a secret document with invisible ink that only a person of Skybirds intelligence can see.

This is just the beginning ... there will be a similar situation, which is probably already happening at this moment

Yes as surely the Shengen agreement doesn't cover this eventuality.