HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL : ROME LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVICES AMID LIBYAN EXODUS FEARS.

Despite Italy's pleas to its partners to help deal with an imminent "humanitarian crisis" in Libya and a "Biblical exodus" towards its shores, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries refused to budge one iota on their position: they do not want to organise a "burden-sharing" system in the EU to take their share of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

"We cannot be left on our own," pleaded Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni, on 24 February in Brussels, before meeting fellow EU ministers. "We are confronted with a humanitarian emergency and I am asking Europe to take all measures necessary to cope with a disastrous humanitarian situation," he added.

The European Union is preparing for the worst-case scenario, even the possibility of a military intervention in Libya for humanitarian reasons (see separate articles). However, in terms of a massive influx of refugees, "there is no crisis," repeat ministers and the Commission. "Italy is faced with a challenge but is in no case submerged," observed German Minister Thomas de Maiziere, in the wings of the meeting in Brussels.

Italy has already had to deal with the arrival of some 6,000 Tunisians on its island of Lampedusa in the wake of the collapse of the Ben Ali regime. Europe expressed its "solidarity" by dispatching a Frontex mission in which ten EU states are participating until 31 March, at least by lending helicopters, airplanes and ships to provide surveillance of coasts and experts to interview immigrants, identify nationalities, participate in return operations, take asylum requests into account and evaluate risks in the region.

As Colonel Gaddafi continues to crack down on his people's uprising in Libya, the Italian minister says his country could be confronted this time with the potential arrival of "1.5 million people," which would bring it "to its knees". According to different European sources, Libya - Italy's trade and anti-illegal immigration ally - has 500,000 to 1.5 million foreign inhabitants, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet European experts and decision...