Italy Pledges Reforms For Migrant Centres

"I would like us to remember the situation we are in. In 2013, the number of migrant boats , because of the instability and tensions in the Mediterranean, have tripled. They have more than tripled. They have more than tripled in one year. We find ourselves in a situation, we have found ourselves in a situation of tremendous pressure. This tremendous pressure has caused our country to try and find an answer. 'Mare Nostrum' (Our Seas) is one ot these, other answers have naturally been at the European level, with the discussions we had both in the European Council Meeting in October and with the report approved now in the European Council in December and the positive concrete steps, reinforcing Frontex, Eurosur and the other aspects, I have no doubt that we need to do more ourselves."Last week a video showing migrants standing naked in the cold while being sprayed for scabies stirred outrage in Italy and around the world and underscored what many have criticised as the European Union's failure to tackle its immigration crisis humanely.

"Independently, the government immediately intends to get to work on a comprehensive revision of the standards of reception centres, together with the work we have done over these months on the way we receive migrants, that in this year has seen a doubling of migrants, this year we have 16,000 people," he said.

Italy has borne the brunt of a wave of immigration to the European Union, with more than 40,000 people risking the dangerous sea crossing from northern Africa this year.