Take Control on Refugees, Italy’s Renzi Tells European Leaders

Addressing the parliament in Rome before Thursday’s European Union summit, Renzi told lawmakers that Italy’s demands for support have been vindicated as the biggest influx of refugees since World War II had become a challenge to the entire EU.

“On the issue of migration, Italy was right, and the rest of Europe was not,” said Renzi, whose country along with Greece has borne the brunt of arrivals from across the Mediterranean. “From the first day, we have said it was time to change EU policy on these issues” while many friends and allies “changed position on the basis of individual events” instead of adopting a long-term strategy.