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Europe appears to be backing the Italian authorities’s hard-line stance on migration.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday promised “a coordinated response” from Brussels to the issue of immigration, vowing to enhance anti-trafficking forces, improve air surveillance and take into account a attainable new European naval mission within the Mediterranean Sea.
Following a surge in arrivals by boat on the Italian coast final week, von der Leyen visited the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday, the place hundreds of migrants are stranded in tough circumstances. She was accompanied by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In response to the disaster, members of the Italian authorities have known as for an EU naval mission to stop boats leaving north Africa. They’ve additionally proposed measures to extend repatriations, and a doubling of the variety of detention facilities.
In a video message on Friday, Meloni warned individuals to not undertake the Mediterranean crossing due to the hazard. These discovered to be unlawful can be “detained and repatriated,” she mentioned.
Preventing irregular migration “shouldn’t be thought of” Italy’s activity alone, “however the duty of Europe to itself,” Meloni mentioned on Lampedusa on Sunday. “The way forward for Europe will depend on its capability to face nice challenges,” the Italian chief added.
Von der Leyen outlined a ten-point plan to handle the migrant challenges. Talking throughout her go to to the island, she promised “a European answer to a European problem,” telling islanders: “You may depend on the European Union.”
The EU plan contains the speedy assist of the bloc’s asylum company with the dealing with of migrants, to determine who has the proper to asylum. The plan additionally affords the assist of EU border company Frontex within the speedy return of migrants refused asylum. “Those that shouldn’t have the proper can not stay,” von der Leyen mentioned.
She highlighted the necessity to combat trafficking, working extra intently with origin nations equivalent to Tunisia, which might obtain EU funding.
It’s the second time that von der Leyen has urged that she stands side-by-side with Meloni on immigration. Earlier this summer time, the Fee chief and Meloni traveled to Tunisia to hunt cooperation from Tunisia on stopping irregular migration throughout the Mediterranean.
Meloni is predicted to formally suggest the naval mission to different EU leaders on the subsequent European Council.
Earlier this week, France had stepped up border safety and Germany had suspended a voluntary program fore the reallocation of migrants, complaining that Italy was not respecting EU guidelines on accepting returned migrants.
However following the intervention of von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, the German authorities reinstated the scheme. And after a name between Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, Paris promised “shared motion.”
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