France blocks Italian train carrying African migrants

France blocked an Italian train carrying African migrants from entering its territory on the 17 April 2011, reigniting tension between the two countries about how to handle the recent flow of mainly Tunisian migrants fleeing turmoil in North Africa.

The influx of economic refugees from Tunisia has exposed deep rifts in the European Union. Italy wants help in dealing with the thousands of immigrants who have arrived since the beginning of 2011, but the rest of the bloc refuses to provide it. It is just one more example of an EU struggling to stay united.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 19.4.11: EU commission absolves France over Tunisia migrants http://euobserver.com/9/32206

EUObserver, 18.4.11: Franco-Italian row over Tunisian migrants escalates http://euobserver.com/9/32199

ESO: Background Information: French interior minister calls for less immigration http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-interior-minister-calls-for-less-immigration-council-conclusions-on-the-management-of-migration-from-the-southern-neighbourhood/

BBC News, 17.4.11: France blocks Italian trains carrying migrants http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13109631

Deutsche Welle, 17.4.11: Italy protests after France blocks trains in migrant sp http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14996064,00.html

La Vanguardia, 19.4.11: EU - French Schengen busting is “legal” (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/606361-eu-french-schengen-busting-legal

PressEurop, 18.4.11: Schengen a loser in France/Italy duel http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/604361-schengen-loser-franceitaly-duel

BBC News, 18.4.11: France had right to halt migrant trains from Italy - EU http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13120023

France24, 18.4.11: EU says France had right to block migrant trains http://www.france24.com/en/20110418-french-decision-block-italian-migrant-train-legal-says-eu-immigration

Spiegel Online International, 18.4.11: Refugee Influx Exposes Limitations of European Solidarity http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,757666,00.html

Corriere della Sera, 18.4.11: French Border Police Block Italian Trains http://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2011/04/18/coppola-french-block-italian-migrants-trains.shtml

---