Italy: France's Le Pen urges joint anti-migrant patrols in Mediterranean

Rome, 15 March (AkI) - Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen has called on Italy to form joint patrols with her country to turn back people-smuggling boats in the Mediterranean amid a "dramatic" influx of migrants fleeing unrest in North Africa.

During a visit to Rome on Tuesday, Le Pen also urged controls to be resumed at the border between Italy and France, doubting that the European Union and its borders agency Frontex would be able to stop the migrant influx.

"It's a mistake to think that an anonymous and distant body can be effective. We need to denounce the inefficiency of the European Union and strike bilateral accords," Le Pen told a press conference.

Le Pen in January took the helm of France's xenophobic National Front party from her father, party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen. She could poll as much as 21 percent of French electors' votes according to a recent survey.

"Individual countries need to face up to their responsibilities, which should not be left to Frontex," Le Pen said, urging severe penalties for people smugglers.

Border controls can be re-established between Schengen area countries under Article 2.2 of the Schengen agreement.

On Monday, Le Pen was heckled by protesters when she visited the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, where some 10,000 migrants, mainly from Tunisia, have landed in the past two months since the popular uprisings that ousted Tunisia and Egypt's rulers after decades in power.