THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Germany is prepared to take in 25 percent of migrants who arrive in Italy by boat, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung on Friday.
In an apparent goodwill gesture ahead of European Union talks on immigration later this month, Seehofer said: “If all that has been agreed stands, we would be able to take in 25 percent of people rescued at sea and who end up in Italy.”
“This will not overwhelm our migration policy.”
The talks in Malta, scheduled for September 23, have been planned as EU member states seek to reach a deal on the distribution of migrants who arrive by rescue boats.
Italy, in particular, has been the center of attention this summer after former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini closed Italy’s ports to vessels rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean.
But Seehofer was keen to stress Germany has a different view. “I have always said that our immigration policy is humane,” he continued. “We will let no one drown.”
Meanwhile, a new Italian government sworn in last week has suggested a softer policy on immigration, following Salvini’s hard-line stance. Furthermore, Italy said it had reached an agreement with EU countries to distribute migrants among the fellow member states.
Author: jsi/aw (Reuters, dpa, AFP)
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