Italy Wants EU-NATO Sea Operation to Fend Off North African Migration

British warship HMS Cumberland enters the Valletta Grand Harbour with evacuees from Libya, Malta, 07 March 2011. EPA/BGNES

Italy has called for joint NATO-EU maritime surveillance operation off the Libyan coast over the implementation of an arms embargo against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and the rising illegal migration from North Africa to Europe.

Italy, which is at the receiving end of migratory waves from North Africa, said such an "operation could be useful also for monitoring human beings across the Mediterranean Sea." Italy's call is contained in a diplomatic document, as cited by DPA.

Italy's proposal was circulated at a meeting of EU foreign ministers over the situation in Libya on Thursday, taking place ahead of EU and NATO defense ministerials, also intended to discuss the Western response to the Libyan crisis in which dictator Muammar Gaddafi is fighting for survival against an anti-regime uprising.

An EU and Schengen Area member, Italy, has already seen a tide of illegal immigration from Tunisia leading EU's border agency Frontex to deploy Sunday a special mission to assist the Italian authorities in dealing with the new arrivals, especially on the tiny southern island of Lampedusa entitled "Hermes".

According to Italian authorities, more than 5000 people have landed on Lampedusa from Tunisia in the aftermath of pro-democracy protests that toppled Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Some 300 000 Libyan refugees may head to Italy to escape from the ongoing turmoil in the North African country, Italy's Foregn Minister Franco Frattini said recently.

In addition, Some 2.5 million people, immigrants from Africa, may flee to Italy if strongman Muammar Gaddafi's government falls, Frattini admitted in an interview for Corriere della Sera.

Meanwhile, NATO started 24-hour monitoring of the Libyan air space.

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