Your current location:HOME >sport >EU unveils 'remedy' for migrants 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 19:20:10 Source: Internet compilationEdit:sport
Migrants embark on a ferry in Lampedusa Island, Italy, on Sunday. About 11,000 irregular migrants ar
Migrants embark on a ferry in Lampedusa Island, Italy, on Sunday. About 11,000 irregular migrants arrived in Lampedusa from Africa over the past week. VALERIA FERRARO / REUTERS
Experts question von der Leyen's plan to tackle crisis in Italy's island
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday unveiled a 10-point plan to help Italy deal with the migrant crisis on its Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, a plan that some observers regard as ineffective.
About 11,000 irregular migrants arrived in Lampedusa, located between Malta and Tunisia, from Africa over the past week, triggering a crisis on the tiny island, with a local population of only 6,000. The island's migrant reception center only has a capacity for 400 migrants, prompting local mayor Filippo Mannino to declare a state of emergency on Wednesday.
Von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson visited the island's migrant reception center, met the local community, and inspected the "boat graveyard" where irregular migrants' boats are stored.
"Migration is a European challenge that requires a European answer and solution," von der Leyen said.
"It is concrete actions that will bring change on the ground. It is only through solidarity and unity that we can achieve this. And you can count on the European Union.
"We will decide who comes to the European Union and under what circumstances, and not the smugglers and traffickers," said von der Leyen.
Some local residents held a protest against the irregular migrants who overwhelmed the island and caused tensions with locals.
"We are doing everything in our power," Meloni told the protesters. At a news conference later at the Lampedusa airport, she stressed that the "challenge of the massive flow of immigrants" must be addressed at a pan-European level.
'Huge mistake'
"If somebody here in Europe were to think that this crisis that we are tackling and facing could just be solved within Italian borders, then it would be a very big and huge mistake," she said.
"We cannot solve this problem by resettling migrants within EU borders. We must also address the external dimensions of the issue. The only way to stop illegal migration is to stop these illegal departures."
At the news conference, von der Leyen announced a 10-point plan to help Italy deal with the crisis.
They include increasing assistance to Italy in the procedures related to the arrival of migrants through the EU Agency for Asylum and EU border protection agency Frontex; supporting the transfer of migrants arriving in Lampedusa to other countries willing to accept them; boosting cooperation with African countries where the majority of the migrants come from, and raising the number of migrants to be sent back.
The plan also supports efforts to prevent human trafficking through partnerships with source or transit countries; to increase border patrols at sea and in the air; to disrupt human traffickers' logistical networks; to enhance cooperation with United Nations migration and refugee agencies for voluntary returns; and to implement migration agreements.
The EU signed a deal with Tunisia in July to help end illegal migration from North Africa, but the European Commission has yet to pay the 100 million euros ($106.6 million) promised in the deal.
Meloni on Friday vowed "extraordinary measures" to tackle the crisis, including calling for a naval blockade of North Africa, a call that von der Leyen did not mention on Sunday.
"She's got a plan … And it's got 10 points … And it's got 0 chance of achieving anything," Jonathan Eyal, associate director of London-based Royal United Services Institute for defense and security studies, said on X in response to von der Leyen's post on the social media platform on her plan.
"#Lampedusa — as expected, President @vonderleyen, spoke plenty but said nothing at all," Harris Samaras, an economist and chairman of Pytheas, an international investment banking organization, said on X.
College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at2024-05-21 19:05
Food influencer lifts the lid on little2024-05-21 19:04
He's a former Disney Channel actor who starred in famous films before serving four years in prison2024-05-21 19:00
Victoria Beckham arrives at her 50th birthday party at a swanky private members club on crutches2024-05-21 18:55
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky2024-05-21 18:12
Scottie Scheffler finishes off another win at Hilton Head2024-05-21 17:46
Richmond Mayor Stoney drops Virginia governor bid, he will run for lieutenant governor instead2024-05-21 17:28
NFL draft has been on tour for a decade and the next stop is Detroit, giving it a shot in spotlight2024-05-21 17:26
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI2024-05-21 17:25
Mississippi lawmakers move toward restoring voting rights to 32 felons2024-05-21 17:07
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature2024-05-21 19:17
I'm a female joiner and applied for a job at building firm... but what they said made my blood boil2024-05-21 19:03
NATO newcomer Finland is now a 'front2024-05-21 19:00
Scottie Scheffler finishes off another win at Hilton Head2024-05-21 18:36
Candice Swanepoel stuns in a form2024-05-21 18:07
Victoria Beckham arrives at her 50th birthday party at a swanky private members club on crutches2024-05-21 17:58
Trump to meet with senior Japanese official after court session Tuesday in hush money trial2024-05-21 17:43
Man City vs Man United FA Cup final time confirmed2024-05-21 17:26
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co2024-05-21 17:06
Maya Rudolph chimes in on the 'nepo baby' conversation revealing her famous parents2024-05-21 17:02