Brussels, 11/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced on Tuesday 10 February that she would shortly convene the commissioners' group on external action (a group set up with the new Juncker Commission which meets once per month to discuss losses of life among illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean Sea) after some 30 migrants were found dead from cold off Lampedusa on Monday 9 February and a further sinking with potentially over 300 victims on 11 February.
“We cannot allow other tragedies at sea in the coming weeks and months”, said Mogherini, announcing that a meeting of the commissioners' group would take place “in the coming days” with the commissioner responsible, Dimitris Avramopoulos, to discuss “a review of our policies”. According to a press release, the meeting will discuss smuggling and trafficking, the rescue of migrants at sea and the protection of asylum seekers. When contacted on Wednesday afternoon, Mogherini's staff had not yet determined the timetable for the meeting.
Avramopoulos, who is rumoured to be about to become the next president of the Greek Republic, should know this weekend what Destiny holds for him, his staff have said. If he leaves the Commission, the president, Jean-Claude Juncker, will be free, should he choose, to shuffle portfolios. (Solenn Paulic)