NOTE TO STUDENTS: Before you answer the questions, read the information under "Background" below the questions.

1. When and why did more than 20,000 Tunisians sail to Italy illegally?

2. a) After initially keeping its border closed to the Tunisian migrants, what has the French Interior Minister said France would now do?
b) What condition did the French government place on its agreement? (see para. 3, 9)
c) Many of the Tunisians probably won't be able to prove that they can support themselves financially in France. Do you think this (2b) is an unreasonable condition on the part of the French government? Explain your answer.

3. For what reason are so many Tunisians trying to get to France specifically?

4. Most of the illegal immigrants have been transferred to Italy from the island of Lampedusa, but more boats of illegal migrants keep coming to other Italian shores. Also, hundreds of Tunisians ran away from the camps on Italy's mainland, and headed straight for the French border.
a) What agreement have the governments of France and Italy made for preventing future illegal immigrants coming to Europe from North Africa?
b) Do you think this is a good idea? Explain your answer.

5. a) What are the leaders of Italy and France asking the European Union to do?
b) Do you think this is a reasonable request? Explain your answer.

6. Asylum is defined as: protection or safety, especially that given by a government to foreigners who have been forced to leave their own countries because of religious or political persecution. The article does not describe current economic conditions in Tunisia, but implies that many of the migrants have come to Italy/France illegally for economic reasons.
As well as the flood of immigrants from Tunisia, almost all of whom are young men seeking work in Europe, Italian officials are deeply concerned that the fighting in Libya could cause many more illegal immigrants to come from North Africa.
How many job seekers/illegal immigrants do you think are too many for France/Italy to absorb? Explain your answer.

7.  What responsibility does the European Union have to address the North African refugee problem?