Immigration : Tension Mounts between Italy and Rest of Eu

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During a controversial debate, on 30 March, on the Italian island of Lampedusa, the country's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, announced the mass evacuation of immigrants arriving on the island between now and the end of this week - while the EU continued to call for Italy to address the situation.

"The vast majority of immigrants to Lampedusa are economic immigrants," highlighted the spokesperson for the Commissioner in charge of immigration, Cecilia Malmstrom. According to the Commission, Rome should use EU funds available for 2010-2011; 53 million for border surveillance, 13.7 million for the return of illegal immigrants, and 47.5 million for the integration of refugees. …