Brussels, 13/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 12 May, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström was again obliged to speak out following another shipwreck off the Libyan coast that led to the deaths of at least 17 people. She deplored member states' inaction in this connection.
Although 206 migrants were saved on Monday, according to the Italian navy, the initial information broadcast suggested that the boat was sailing with 250 people on board. On Twitter and then in a press release, the Malmström regretted the loss of life and called on the EU to open up legal channels for migration to “reduce the risk of such tragedies happening again”. Malmström also again called on the Council to hold talks on the subject. A Council of EU home affairs ministers is planned for the beginning of June in Luxembourg. Malmström also welcomed the efforts made by Italy to prevent these tragedies. In the autumn, the Italian authorities launched their Mare Nostrum operation between the Libyan coast and their own. This was set up following the sinking of a ship on 3 October off Lampedusa, which led to a death toll of over 350.
At the time, EU ministers also made a commitment to set up an extensive rescue operation in the Mediterranean, from Spain to Cyprus, and identified the technical means they could make available to achieve this end. An action plan was also approved, which included resettling refugees on their own soil and opening up new legal channels of immigration, for example, humanitarian visas for Syrians fleeing the conflict in their country.
In the press release, Malmström stated that “it is the clear responsibility of all member states of the European Union to now show concrete solidarity in order to reduce the risk of such tragedies from happening again”. She added: “I therefore call on all member states to give concrete and effective follow up to the actions identified in the action plan designed by the European Commission, and in particular to engage in resettling refugees directly from the camps outside the EU and opening new legal channels to come legally”. Malmström said that “if each member state would resettle even just a few thousand people, this would make a huge difference for hundreds of thousands of people who are in need of shelter and it would significantly reduce the pressure of migratory flows in the Mediterranean. It is time for member states to put their words into action.”
According to a report in the French news agency AFP, the Italian minister for home affairs, Angelino Alfano, expressed vexation with his European partners and threatened to let all the refugees who had the right leave Italy if the European Union did not help his country. Speaking on the RAI 3 Italian television channel, Alfano stated that “Europe has two possibilities: either it comes here and endorses Mare Nostrum with the European flag or we will allow all immigrants that have had their status defined and processed, and who have the right to international protection and want to go to other countries, to leave”. He added that “the right of asylum is sacrosanct but this right should also be exercised in countries other than just Italy” (our translation).
The Commission has not abandoned Italy. On Tuesday 13 May, the European Commission reiterated that it had not abandoned Italy and that the country benefited from two Frontex operations, supported by 18 member states and extended until September 2014. Italy also receives assistance from the European Asylum Support Office. Malmström's spokesperson, Michele Cercone, stated that “there are also long-term development tools, such as dialogue with countries of emigration and transit”. He pointed out that “two mobility partnerships have been signed with Morocco and Tunisia, and a readmission agreement has been signed with Turkey”. He added that “everything that has been put in the hands of the Commission has been effectively carried out”. He stated that a letter had been sent to the Italian authorities in March, asking them about additional measures Italy might need - but that so far the letter has not been answered. (SP)