Italy calls on EU to share responsibility for migrants

SGGP 09/18/2023 08:54

On September 17, BBC reported that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that the common future of the European Union (EU) is facing a major challenge as the number of migrants arriving on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa is increasing rapidly.

Thousands of migrants arriving in boats from the North African coast have arrived on the island of Lampedusa this week, sparking a refugee crisis and reigniting debate among EU member states over the distribution of refugees.

Between September 11 and 13, some 8,500 migrants – more than the entire population of Lampedusa – arrived on 199 boats. The Italian Red Cross, which operates the migrant reception centre in Lampedusa, said that as of September 17, the facility had 1,500 migrants temporarily housed there, more than three times its usual capacity of 400.

Speaking at a press conference with European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen during a joint visit to Lampedusa island, Ms. Giorgia Meloni said that EU countries need to coordinate to deal with common challenges from the wave of migrants that is becoming out of control.

The Italian Prime Minister stressed that this issue is threatening the future that the EU is aiming for, a future that depends on the bloc's ability to respond to major challenges.

Ms von der Leyen said that the wave of illegal migration is a challenge for the whole of Europe and needs a common response from the bloc. The EC President called on other EU members to take in migrants to share the burden with Italy.

Source