Brussels, 25/08/2014 (Agence Europe) -European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström announced via her Twitter account on Sunday 24 August that she was to meet Italian Minister for Home Affairs Angelino Alfano in Brussels on Wednesday 27 August to discuss the recent events in the Mediterranean and, more specifically, at Lampedusa, where the Italian navy discovered the bodies of 18 illegal immigrants together with 73 survivors on board an inflatable vessel on the morning of 24 August. “I'm appalled by new tragedies at sea”, tweeted the Swedish official, calling on the member states to provide Italy and the countries of the South of the Union with more help to deal with the massive influx of migrants on their shores. The meeting between Malmström and Alfano will seek to identify the priorities and provide assistance, the commissioner said.
In addition, a technical meeting will be held in Rome on Tuesday 26 August between representatives of the Frontex agency, the Italian authorities and representatives of the European Commission to look into the possibility of launching a “Frontex +” operation to support the Italian authorities, the spokesperson for the Swedish commissioner announced on Monday 25 August. This potential new operation to support the efforts made by Rome as part of its Mare Nostrum operation is still under discussion, particularly as regards its technical details, no decision having yet been made. The spokesperson declined at this stage to clarify whether this Frontex operation would replace Mare Nostrum, which the Italian authorities wish to wind up on the grounds of costs. (SP)