BRUSSELS: Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi disarmed his critics in the European Parliament yesterday by appealing for a dignified welcome for immigrants in Europe.
The reception for his remarks, which came after dozens of migrants died in three separate shipwrecks off Italy, was in stark contrast to the uproar he caused on his debut in the Italian EU presidency when he compared a German MEP to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
Departing from his prepared text, Mr Berlusconi spoke of "the horror of the recent tragedy" in the Mediterranean, just off the Italian coast.
Italy has been traumatised by the events of the past few days. Tunisian coastguards said on Tuesday they had found the bodies of five migrants who drowned when a small boat sank as it carried them and 17 others towards Italy. Last week, seven migrants died on a boat bound for the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.
On Sunday, 13 corpses were discovered heaped on a boat adrift in the Mediterranean. Fifteen Somalis survived that nightmarish voyage and said they had dumped overboard the bodies of at least 50 other people who had died of cold and hunger during 20 days at sea.
"The loss of so many lives of people driven by the force of desperation to seek a better future must spur us on to strengthen our mutual co-operation to prevent such disasters from ever happening again," Mr Berlusconi told parliament.
"We all need to think very carefully about how this civilised and Christian Europe, this Europe of prosperity, can open up to welcome those who come here with, in their hearts, a desire to seek a better future for them and their children," he added, to applause from across the house.
Even his old nemesis, Mr Martin Schulz, the German MEP who was the butt of his infamous Nazi jibe in July, had kind words for Mr Berlusconi, who smiled broadly as Mr Schulz spoke.
"I have the impression that what Mr Berlusconi said came from the heart, and we share his concern," he said.
"The protection of the external borders and the protection of the dignity of refugees is not a matter for Italy ... it is a European issue. All of us here are responsible, all of us have to show solidarity with your country," he said.
Referring to remarks attributed to Italian Reforms Minister Mr Umberto Bossi that he wished the navy would open fire on ships carrying illegal migrants, Mr Schulz said: "We are very happy that it is not those members of your government who want these boats sunk who are responsible for this issue in the [EU\] home affairs council."