Italy threatens to 'hurt' Europe if no help with migrants

(MENAFN- Arab News) ROME: Italy threatened Sunday to turn to a Plan B to deal with migrants which 'would hurt Europe' if the country is not given greater help with the crisis as Austria and France expelled asylum seekers back onto Italian soil.
The country is struggling to accommodate an endless wave of boat migrants and a crackdown on security at the French and Austrian borders over the past few days has exacerbated the situation causing a bottleneck at Italy's train stations.
The crisis 'should not be underestimated' Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said in an interview published in the Corriere della Sera daily.
'It is a serious issue and let me be clear Europe's answers so far have not been good enough' he added.
The EU is having difficulty achieving consensus for its proposed migrant distribution plan under which 24000 refugees would be taken in by other countries but Italy is hoping an EU summit on June 25-26 will go even further.
'Redistributing just 24000 people is almost a provocation' Renzi said.
'If Europe chooses solidarity good. If it doesn't we have Plan B ready. But it would first and foremost hurt Europe' he said without providing details.
The premier has come under pressure to take a stronger stance with the 28-member bloc with the anti-establishment Five Star movement suggesting Italy threaten to freeze its EU budget contributions if aid is not forthcoming.
Over 57000 migrants and asylum seekers have been rescued at sea and brought to Italy so far this year up from 54000 at the same time last year Renzi said and Rome wants other countries to shoulder part of the burden.
It also wants the EU to share the cost of quickly repatriating would-be economic migrants who currently make up around 60 percent of those arriving by boat.
Renzi will raise the issue with his British and French counterparts when they travel to Milan this week and he said he would also speak to European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.