Debate: The need for European solidarity in saving lives in the Mediterranean, in particular in Italy
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Johannes Hahn
Language: EN

But solidarity also between Member States – Member States of destination and Member States at the borders facing large numbers of arrivals. Like Italy this very moment, with more than 30 000 arrivals in the first three months of this year alone: almost a 300% increase compared to the same period last year. More than 1 500 arrived last weekend alone. Many arrive on the island of Lampedusa. The coast of Lampedusa is also the coast of the European Union. The people who arrive there are our shared responsibility. We support Italy as a Union. We have managed to relocate 950 people – two thirds from Italy, many from Lampedusa – thanks to the voluntary solidarity mechanism set up last June. We want Member States to relocate more and faster. The Commission coordinates and encourages Member States to step up their efforts. We support Italy with our funds. Italy is the single biggest recipient of EU migration money, receiving almost EUR 2 billion since 2015 from our migration and asylum funds. The Commission is currently discussing with Italy additional possible emergency financial support. We support Italy with our EU agencies, which work closely with the Italian police and coast guard, hand in hand and day by day, the EU Asylum Agency works with 200 staff in Italy, also in Lampedusa, where they help migrants communicate with authorities, and more than 300 Frontex staff and six coastal patrol boats, two aeroplanes and one helicopter. They patrol the waves and search for ships in distress. Last year, Frontex helped save more than 50 000 lives at sea. And we support Italy with our policies. We are implementing the Central Mediterranean Action Plan launched in November. As part of that plan, we continue to build strong migration partnerships with countries of origin, transit or destination. To support Italy, we must strengthen our partnership with Tunisia, so far, the main country of departure to Italy this year. Later this month, Commissioner Johansson will travel to Tunisia to launch an anti—smuggling operational partnership to work together to prevent departures and loss of life and to increase returns, but also to provide credible alternatives for deadly journeys, launching a talent partnership with Tunisia. To deal with the large increase in arrivals Italy has announced a state of emergency. We understand the main objective of the state of emergency is to provide additional reception capacities with faster procedures in the current circumstances. We expect this state of emergency to help address the real challenges Italy is confronted with. At the same time, no single Member State can manage migration alone, and no single policy measure alone will be enough to manage migration. We need a European migration policy. We need a comprehensive migration policy and in short, we need the pact. So I thank you for taking another step forward today on the pact, another step forward towards a truly European migration policy, namely the start this morning of political negotiations between Parliament and Council on the Asylum Procedure Regulation. After the start of negotiations on Eurodac earlier this year and before the start, hopefully of negotiations, next week on screening, this shows Europe can move forward on migration and asylum, that Europe is moving forward on migration and asylum. Solidarity with people in need, solidarity with Member States in need: we can and must do both. And I call on you to do everything you can to reach an agreement on the pact before the end of this mandate.