Finland: Salvini confirms Italy-Malta 'Mediterranean proposal' on migration

W/S Italian Interior Minister and League party leader Matteo Salvini arriving at press conference, Helsinki
W/S Salvini at press conference
SOT, Matteo Salvini, Italian Interior Minister (Italian): "With regards to the southern border, it is the first time there is a Mediterranean proposal. In the sense that until the last time we did not get along with Malta. For the first time there is a common document between Italy and Malta that has gathered other consents during the works. I'm not saying it opposes it, but it supplements the Franco-German document. At the summits I participated in there usually was a document that arrived, ready made, and it already was the final document. This time there is a discussion in progress. And indeed no document went out at the end of the informal summit. And we will work in the coming weeks."
Journalist (Italian): "What are the points [of the proposal]?"
Matteo Salvini, Italian Interior Minister (Italian): "That there is no nearest landing point that is formally indicated, because otherwise it means that everyone arrives in Italy or Malta. I will never sign a document that expects everyone to arrive at my house. Because then, the relocation, trusting is good, not trusting is better. Many people - Dutch colleague included but I also talked with the Estonian, the Norwegian, the Swiss, with many realities with which we have convened - the priorities are expulsions and protection of the external borders."
*MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
C/U Journalist asking question (Italian) "What do you think of the attempts of Russia to influence the elections of European Union countries?" *UPSOUND* *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Matteo Salvini, Italian Interior Minister (Italian): "I think that citizens vote with their own head, fortunately. Until proven wrong I have read many things about hackers, emails, reports, financing. We have read every kind of thing. I have not seen one concrete element. So I think that in Finland, Italy and Malta everyone has voted with their own head. We have been following this dossier in the United States for two years, according to which these very powerful Russian hackers have arrived there as well. We have no trace of that. I remember there had been a controversy in Italy about an attack against President Mattarella that would have been co-ordinated by Russian hackers. The attorney came out 10 days ago saying there was no trace of Russian hackers. So let's not overestimate these Russian hackers as well, in my opinion."
M/S Journalist asking question (Italian) "In the last two years the operations of influence on our territory on behalf of Russia. Were you informed on this? Is this something that worries you, are you in contact with [secret] services on this point?" *UPSOUND* *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Matteo Salvini, Italian Interior Minister (Italian): "Many try to influence, with economic and information channels. We are all objects and subjects of daily influences. Let's think of the controversy on 5G with China, of the presence of some French multinationals. It is clear that everyone tries to make their own interests. But from here to influence elections and influence the life of a nation, there is a deep-sea distance. So every secret service does its own job. I think of the fact that in Rome there are secret services from the entire world, and they work as secret services. But I am not worried, as Interior Minister, of possible contaminations on behalf of so and so."
M/S Journalists
W/S Press conference ending
SCRIPT
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini announced a "Mediterranean proposal" for the management of immigration along the European Unions' southern border, during a press conference in Helsinki on Thursday after an informal meeting of EU Interior and Justice Ministers.
"For the first time there is a common document between Italy and Malta that has gathered other consents during the works. I'm not saying it opposes it, but it supplements the Franco-German document," Salvini said.
Among the points of the proposal, Salvini said, was "that there is no nearest landing point that is formally indicated, because otherwise it means that everyone arrives in Italy or Malta. I will never sign a document that expects everyone to arrive at my house." "The priorities are expulsions and protection of the external borders," Salvini added.
When asked by a journalist what he thought of "the attempts of Russia to influence the elections of European Union countries," Salvini responded: "I think that citizens vote with their own head, fortunately. Until proven wrong I have read many things about hackers, emails, reports, financing. We have read every kind of thing. I have not seen one concrete element."
"Let's not overestimate these Russian hackers as well," the Italian Interior Minister added.
When asked about alleged "operations of influence" in Italy on behalf of Russia, Salvini said "it is clear that everyone tries to make their own interests. But from here to influence elections and influence the life of a nation, there is a deep-sea distance."
"I am not worried, as Interior Minister, of possible contaminations on behalf of so and so."
On July 11, Italian prosecutors launched an inquiry into possible charges of international corruption, after L'Espresso magazine reported about an alleged arrangement between Salvini's aide Gianluca Savoini and three unidentified Russians close to the Russian government. The alleged deal would have channelled million of euros to Salvini's League party ahead of the European elections.