| Author (Corporate) | BBC |
|---|---|
| Series Title | BBC News |
| Series Details | 31.12.14 |
| Publication Date | 31/12/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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The Local.it and other news sources reported that approximately 700 illegal migrants rescued from a ship near the Greek island of Corfu arrived in Italy on the 31 December 2014, after their boat was intercepted while 'drifting' towards the coast. The Local.it reported that Italy had picked up 2,300 people from troubled boats over the Christmas period of 2014, lifting to more than 170,000 the number of migrants from North Africa registered as reaching Italian soil in 2014. On the 1 January 2015 BBC News reported that the Italian coastguard had said that a further merchant ship with 450 migrants on board but seemingly no crew was heading for the Italian coast. In connection with this development the blog Migrants At Sea noted on the 31 December 2014 a report from Frontex noting the growing use by smugglers of older freighters and cargo vessels which were being obtained primarily in south-eastern Turkey and which were being used by smugglers to transport larger numbers of migrants. Commentators in various European news sources (as listed in the Main Focus of Euro|Topics on the 5 January 2015) suggested that trafficking gangs were taking advantage of the EU's failed refugee policy and called for a coordinated EU rescue mission in the Mediterranean. The Guardian reported on the 6 January 2015 that the European Commission had asked Turkey to explain how human traffickers could have taken two cargo ships filled with migrants out of the country and towards the EU without the authorities noticing. |
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| Source Link | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30643368 |
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| Subject Categories | Justice and Home Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Europe, Greece, Italy |
