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Italy suggests cooperation in immigration between EU and Libya
1:23 Am
Italian minister of foreign affairs has called for cooperation in immigration issues between the European Union and Libya. He said the agreement was needed very urgently to deal with illegal immigration from Africa to the EU. As Middle East Online reports, the minister said that Libya needs help in patrolling its 1200 km border in the south. Otherwise, the EU cannot expect Libya to be fighting illegal immigration on its own. Earlier this year Libya appealed to the EU for help in tackling the issue of illegal immigration – it asked for technical support, equipment supplies and help with training. Many European countries want to cooperate with Libya as it is currently a transit route for many Africans from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan into the EU. Illegal immigrants sail across the Mediterranean to the EU, usually Italy. The EU has suggested that Libya signs a refugee convention. That way immigrants could get an asylum in Libya and refrain from sailing to the EU.