Italian PM says EU must manage migratory flows

The European Union must manage migratory flows, not be subject to them, Italy's prime minister said on Thursday

Giuseppe Conte spoke during a news conference alongside the heads of states of France, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

He said the EU must extend its leadership in the Mediterranean, strengthen relationship with countries of origin and transit, as well as put up in place a mandatory system for repatriations.

"We must adopt a European mechanism of repatriations as well as an effective mechanism for a mandatory redistribution of migrants," he said.

His comments on migration come during an emergency summit by the seven nations amid fears of open conflict with Turkey stemming from mounting tensions over oil and gas drilling.

"The main basis is to convey strong solidarity, not just ideal but concrete, with the friends of Greece and Cyprus, with respect to unilateral Turkish actions," Conte said.

Greece and Turkey have deployed naval and air force units to assert competing claims over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish survey vessels and drill ships continue to prospect for gas in waters where Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights.

Italy's oil and gas giant ENI is among the companies that won the bid to conduct exploratory drills off Cyprus.