BRUSSELS , July 7 (UPI) -- A European Union commissioner denied Italy has been abandoned in dealing with a pervasive immigration issue Monday, but admitted other member states could offer more help.
Italy has been the focal point for thousands of immigrants, primarily from the Middle East and North Africa, attempting to escape poverty and violence in the past year by arriving on European shores in typically unreliable and overcrowded boats. Capsizes, in which hundreds have died, have been so prevalent the Italian military began a campaign to rescue and escort debilitated ships to port.
"It is unfair to say Europe has abandoned Italy ... certainly not the European Commission," EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Cecelia Malmstrom said in Brussels Monday. She added that "member states could do more" to help Italy with dealing with the tens of thousands of refugees who have arrived in the past two years.
Italy, she noted, has received 500 million Euros from the EU for immigration relief and will be "the largest recipient of funds" from the EU for immigration policy.
Malmstrom added, "We are appealing to other member states to share" the burden of hosting the refugees.
