The Italian island of Lampedusa has been overwhelmed with thousands of migrants arriving on boats from Tunisia this past week. After calls for a naval blockade from far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited the fishing island and vowed to take action.
The Associated PressEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, centre, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, third from right, visit the island of Lampedusa on Sunday. The island, which is closer to Tunisia than the Italian mainland, has seen a large influx of migrants in the past week.
"We will decide who comes to the European Union, and under what circumstances. Not the smugglers," von der Leyen declared after touring the island's hot spot. The Red Cross said 1,500 migrants remained in the centre built to accommodate 400 people. With no space at the centre, many migrants have been sleeping in cots on the side of the road.
She also pledged the Frontex border agency's support in ensuring "the swift return of migrants to their country of origin" who don't qualify to stay in the EU, working with the countries of origin. "If we don't work seriously all together to fight the illegal departures, the numbers of this phenomenon will not only overwhelm the border countries, but all of the others," Meloni said.
The Italian government intends to quickly activate a system for repatriating migrants who are not eligible to stay in Europe as part of measures to be decided by Monday, Meloni said.
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