ROME, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) should take charge of repatriation of migrants who reach Italy and other European countries but are not entitled to asylum, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said after holding talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday.
"We believe those countries feeling a common responsibility before the historic phenomenon of migrations should find solutions, hopefully shared by the entire European Union," Mattarella said in remarks later released by his office.
In any case, he specified, such solutions should allow "automatic mechanisms to distribute the migrants and repatriate them at the Union's charge."
"That means, the Union should adopt and take on the responsibility for repatriations, because it is able to do it more efficiently than the single member states, returning those who are not entitled to asylum with respect for their condition and rights," Mattarella explained.
He thanked Germany for having been one of the EU partners so far more helpful and supportive in terms of migrants and refugees reception and management.
Echoing his remarks, Steinmeier highlighted Italy and Germany had a specific responsibility in protecting "the foundations of the European Union project" -- including how the bloc reacts and manages major phenomena.
In terms of migrant inflows, the German president agreed on the need of a European solution, adding that efforts to alleviate the burden of EU countries of first arrival -- such as Italy, Greece, and Spain -- should be accompanied by a similarly intense attempt to pacify Libya.
Finding a diplomatic solution was "the goal" of an international conference on Libya the German government is planning to hold in Berlin in October or November at latest.
The northern African country is a major hub from where migrants and refugees have been trying to reach the southern coasts of Europe in recent years, through the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean.
According to European and international analyses, such movements of people are currently fully in the hands of human traffic networks, whose illegal activities in Libya are facilitated by the conditions of instability in the country.
Steinmeier stressed it was crucial for Germany, Italy, and France to move in a coordinated way and with a common vision on the Libyan crisis, because running alone was neither productive nor helpful.
"And, if promoting a European unanimous solution will not be possible, a strong core pursuing a common policy is necessary," Italian news agency Adnkronos cited Steinmeier as further saying.
