ATHENS

The Italian interior minister said France is aware that Italy should be helped in dealing with the irregular migrant wave, Italian media reported Tuesday. 

"In yesterday's meeting with French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, I could see that his tone and attitude projected an awareness that Italy must be helped,” said Matteo Piantedosi, according to the state-run ANSA news agency.

By refusing to take asylum seekers arriving in Lampedusa, France is essentially saying it is not the right approach to the problem, he said.

“The issue is not distribution (of arrivals among EU member states), but having a joint European policy to contain departures," he said.

In reference to Italy’s move Monday to extend the maximum time irregular migrants and failed asylum seekers can be held in pre-removal centers, he said the measure is in line with the EU framework that allows detention for up to 18 months.

ANSA reported that France deployed a police helicopter to its southern border with Italy where anti-terrorism ground vehicles were already positioned as part of measures to boost border controls in response to the immense increase in sea arrivals to Italy.

Controls were also stepped up on rail services between the two countries, it added.

Approximately 11,000 irregular migrants arrived on the island of Lampedusa from Africa through irregular migration routes in the Central Mediterranean in the past week, creating a critical situation on the island.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a 10-point action plan Sep.17 for dealing with the influx of migrants on Lampedusa during a visit to the island.

If the current trend continues, the number of seaborne migrants arriving in Italy will set a new high in 2023.

A total of 127,207 migrants have reached Italy since the beginning of the year, as of Sept. 15. The number is almost double during the same period last year. The peak in migrants’ arrivals was reached in 2016, with 180,000 recorded entries.​​​​​​​