The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, expressed their sadness, on Sunday 26 February, after a boatload of migrants sank off the coast of Crotone in Calabria, killing at least 60 people, including a newborn baby.
During its mandate, the Commission has “significantly intensified efforts to prevent irregular departures and loss of life, to reduce pressure on the EU's external borders and reception systems”, the commissioner said on Twitter.
The Commission has also “provided significant funding to Member States and partner countries to alleviate pressure. Continued progress on the Pact on Migration and Asylum is paramount”, the commissioner commented.
“I am deeply saddened by the terrible shipwreck off the coast of Calabria. Together, we must redouble our efforts on the Pact on Migration and Asylum and on the Action Plan for the Central Mediterranean (presented in November 2022)”, said the Commission President.
The shipwrecked migrants left from Turkey and came from Syria, Afghanistan or Iran. Asked about this on Monday 27 February, the Commission reiterated the support offered by Frontex to Italy and the surveillance that the agency carries out at sea through various operations.
In addition, Italy remains the main beneficiary of EU funds related to migration and 250 people have been relocated since June from Italy under the voluntary solidarity mechanism, commented Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)