Italy welcomes EU migration plan

(AGI) Rome, June 7 - The communication on the external aspects of migration presented by the European Commission is the first step towards the change of course strongly requested by Italy, said Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni. The plan includes "immediate tools to contain the flow and tools on the longer term for the development of African countries. This is crucial to deal with migration in a sustainable way and in cooperation," the minister went on. "On the basis of the Commission's proposals, we will continue to work with maximum effort in the coming days, hoping that the European Council will reach a joint decision in late June to address this challenge in an adequate way and with adequate resources." Italy wants the Commission to review the use of EU cooperation funds, directing resources towards the migratory emergency. At the same time, negotiations on individual agreements with priority countries based on migration routes must be immediately initiated and should follow a strict time schedule, the Italian FM underlined. (AGI) . .