By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The surging number of migrants illegally arriving Europe through the Mediterranean sea will become a core agenda for discourse as interior ministers of Europe Commission hold talks on Friday.
The Commission on Monday set out a 20-point action plan which seeks to address illegal migration through the Mediterranean sea.
At a news conference on Monday, the European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said one focus of the EU plan was to strengthen cooperation with third countries, including actions to prevent departures from North Africa.
According to commission, the majority of migrants depart from Libya and Tunisia and come primarily from Egypt, Tunisia and Bangladesh.
The EU says it plans to have spent 580 million euros ($594 million) between 2021 and 2023 to support North African countries and help foster economic growth and jobs in the region.
This year alone, over 90,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in the European Union through the central Mediterranean route, such as across the sea from North Africa to Italy or Malta, a 50% increase from 2021.
The issue came to a head earlier this month as Paris and Rome clashed over France’s acceptance of a boat carrying 234 rescued migrants that Italy had turned away.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi called the proposal a “solid start”, welcoming the focus on more cooperation with countries of origin and transit and more coordination of sea rescue activities.
Johansson said there needed to be greater EU coordination of search and rescue, including among coastal and flag states, and stressed that providing assistance to people found in distress at sea was a legal obligation.
She also highlighted an EU deal reached in June on voluntary relocation of migrants and financial contributions from EU countries not in the front line.
