Debate: Recent deaths in the Mediterranean and search and rescue at sea
Date: TUESDAY, 18 MAY 2021
Speaker: Augusto Santos Silva
Language: EN

It is imperative that all actors comply with all applicable international rules to ensure the efficient coordination of search and rescue operations by the respective national competent authorities. In particular, EU values and fundamental rights must be upheld, and we need to do everything to prevent loss of human life. If you look at the figures in 2020, approximately 100 000 irregular migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea in total on the three main migratory routes. This year by end of April, we are at 20 000 arrivals, which is the same level as last year at this point in time.  Following the migration crisis in 2015, it has been recognised by the EU leaders that the most effective and long-term solution to this issue is a comprehensive approach to migration which combines more effective control of the EU’s external borders and increases external action and internal aspects. At the same time, enhancing the efforts to stem illegal trafficking of people and to stop smugglers’ operations are going on, on the basis of international operational cooperation with third countries at Member State level and at EU level through EU agencies such as Frontex and Europol.  As regards the control of external borders, the EU and its Member States have also been reinforcing their capacity in the Mediterranean through maritime operations coordinated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, such as Themis, Poseidon and Indalo.  Search and rescue is of paramount importance in such types of operations, in situations of distress at sea where the priority is to save lives. The main principle applicable in this operation is unquestionably, and I quote from the regulation: ‘Measures taken for the purpose of a sea operation shall be conducted in a way that, in all instances, ensures the safety of the persons intercepted or rescued, the safety of the participating units or that of third parties.’ End of quote. In other words, safety of persons prevails over border management.  In accordance with this principle, in the central Mediterranean region, within the framework of the Themis operation, any time a Frontex plane spots a boat in distress it immediately alerts the national rescue centres in the region – Italy, Malta, Libya and Tunisia. All four are internationally recognised maritime rescue coordination centres. These centres are responsible for coordinating the search and rescue and will order the nearest vessel, be it a coastguard vessel or commercial ship, to assist the boat in distress.  With a view to implementing the recommendation on search and rescue, included in the new Pact on migration and asylum, Member States already started convening a contact group to enhance their cooperation in relation to operations carried out by privately-owned or operated vessels for the purpose of search and rescue activities. Furthermore, the Malta Declaration of February 2017 brought together a number of work strands in order to save lives and reduce the migratory pressure across the Mediterranean Sea.  Also at Member State level, initiatives such as the operational Mediterranean initiative launched in July 2020 continue now in a Team Europe spirit where the Commission and the External Service, together with interested EU Member States, coordinate and implement migration management projects in western African countries. On the external dimension, the cooperation with northern and western African states is underpinned by dedicated EU funds as well as by individual contributions by Member States, mainly through the EU Trust Fund for Africa. The EU also works together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration. In a broader context, the presidency is working both with Member States and the Commission with a view to implementing a holistic approach in migration and related policy areas in line with the conclusions of the joint Foreign Affairs’/Home Affairs Council of March. In this context, and I conclude, the Ministerial Conference on the management of migratory flows, organised by the Portuguese Presidency, gathering ministers from Member States and from relevant North African state partners, discussed the management of migration flows and particularly the establishment of pathways for legal migration. Finally, on the general dimension, since binding rules on solidarity have not yet been adopted, Member States have been cooperating on a voluntary basis, relocating persons rescued in the Mediterranean Sea that applied for international protection.