Italy and France Want Tighter Controls on Migration

Italian and French government officials are hoping for changes to the Schengen Agreement, which permits free passage across Western Europe because both countries are facing huge numbers of North African refugees flooding their countries. Since 1985 European Union has dismantled border controls for it citizens and the citizens of other countries to pass freely. Though it is unlikely that the European Union would revise the Schengen Agreement, the request itself reflects the anti-immigration views of the current parties in control of the governments there. Because European citizens are able to move from country to country once in Europe, North African immigrants can move easily between European countries. The request for changes to Schengen have become a means of relieving tension between the two countries, since France is championing the fight in Libya leading to large numbers of Libyans to immigrate legally or illegally to Italy. France has also been reluctant to admit Tunisian immigrants from Italy, and Italy has issued travel papers to encourage Tunisians to move to France.

by Margaret Nunne

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/world/europe/27rome.html?_r=1&ref=world