Brussels, 18/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 December, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said she was extremely concerned about the reception conditions for migrants in the detention centre in Lampedusa. Images broadcast on the Italian television channel Rai 2 on Tuesday showed the degrading treatment of migrants arriving on the island - some of whom were lined up naked in the middle of December and hosed down for disinfection. Italy's Prime Minister Enrico Letta spoke of “serious, shocking and unacceptable images” and announced an in-depth investigation to check the facts and take action against those responsible.
In Malmström's view, the images of the detention centre in Lampedusa “are appalling and unacceptable”, she says in a press release. “We will contact the Italian authorities to ask for more information on these events and we ask them to shed full light over what happened”. Malmström adds that investigations were started back at the end of 2012 into the deplorable conditions in many Italian detention centres, and she reiterates that her staff will not hesitate to launch an infringement procedure.
“Our assistance and support to the Italian authorities in managing migratory flows can only be continued if the country guarantees humane and dignified reception conditions to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees”, Malmström states. In her communication on 4 December on the follow up to the tragedy on 30 October (360 migrants lost their lives when their boat capsized off the coast of Lampedusa), Malmström proposed giving Italy another €30 million to deal with the migratory flows. These issues are also on agenda of the European summit at the end of this week. (SP/transl.fl)