EU chief promises a plan of action as migrants flock to Italian island
- September 18, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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EU chief promises a plan of action as migrants flock to Italian island
Subject: IR
Section: Places in news
Context
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Lampedusa in response to a surge in migrant arrivals.
Migrant Arrivals in Italy
- Italy has seen a substantial increase in migrant arrivals, with nearly 126,000 migrants arriving in the country this year, almost double the figure for the same period in 2022.
Challenges in Lampedusa
- Lampedusa, a small Italian island, has witnessed a sharp rise in migrant landings, exceeding its permanent population.
- Locals are protesting against the growing burden on the island.
European Union’s Action Plan
- Ursula von der Leyen introduced a 10-point plan to assist Italy with the migrant crisis.
- The plan includes utilizing Frontex, the EU’s border agency, to identify and repatriate ineligible asylum seekers among migrants.
- Frontex will intensify surveillance of migrant boats, both at sea and from the air, and collaborate in combatting human smugglers.
- The plan expedites the supply of equipment to Tunisia’s coastguard, the main departure point for sea migrants, and accelerates fund transfers.
- Ursula von der Leyen is committed to improving legal channels for migrants.
Lampedusa
- Location: Lampedusa is a small Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of Tunisia.
- Geography: It covers about 20 square kilometers, the largest of the Pelagie Islands.
- Population: Small, with seasonal variations due to tourism; Italian and North African communities.
- Economy: Primarily reliant on tourism, with fishing and agriculture contributing.
- Immigration: Known for being a destination for migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean.
- Historical Significance: Influenced by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and Normans due to its strategic location.