afrol News, 15 May - Italy has given the Libyan government three patrol boats on Thursday as part of the joint agreement to root out the high illegal influx of migrants to the Italian shores. Libya and Italy signed an agreement to maintain joint naval patrols in the Mediterranean to crack down on illegal immigration of Africans crossing to Europe daily.

Libyan Interior Minister, Roberto Maroni, said the three patrol boats which would monitor its 1,770km Mediterranean coastline, will drastically reduce the high influx of illegal immigrants in the sea. The ministry says another three boats will be given to Libya in coming weeks.

Rome is pressing Libya to improve coastal patrols, saying Libya is a starting point for thousands of migrants traveling to Europe from the northern and sub-Saharan Africa.

On Thursday, the Italian government passed a law which would impose fines of up to 10,000 euros ($13,600) on illegal immigrants and jailing terms of up to three years to people who let out accommodation to them.

Italy recently started sending migrant boats back to Libya after intercepting them in international waters, without first screening them for asylum claims. The returns have drawn criticism from the UN refugee agency, the Vatican and human rights organisations.

Libya has no functioning asylum system and is not a party to the 1951 UN convention relating to the status of refugees.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sparked further controversy when he defended the decision by saying he did not want to see a multi-ethnic Italy, but welcomed only those who meet the conditions for political asylum.

Libya has been a major staging post for migrants from Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa wanting to reach Europe.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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