(VOVWORLD) - Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Wednesday called for asylum regulations to be standardised across Europe.
 Migrants are stranded at Ventimiglia beach, Italy, after being refused by France. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
The Italian leader spoke at a press conference in Lyon, France, with French President Emmanuel Macron, with both agreeing that immigration was one of the biggest challenges facing the continent and a major concern of EU citizens. He urged the Union to work on voluntary repatriations of people who have no right to asylum and standardise asylum at the EU level.
Macron proposed the establishment of a special agency to deal with immigration issues, which is also part of a vision to reform the bloc.
The European Commission on Wednesday again called on the 27 member states -- excluding Britain, which is leaving the EU -- to quickly adopt “lasting reform” of common regulations on asylum in Europe, which has stalled for more than a year.