Statement by Commissioner Malmström after the meeting with Italian Interior Minister Alfano – Commission to help Italy cope with immigrants

Following a meeting between Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Angelino Alfano, Interior Minister of Italy in Brussels on the 27 August 2014, it was announced that the European Commission would launch a new migrant rescue operation ('Frontex plus') in the Mediterranean, as Italy struggled with a surge of migrants trying to reach the continent by boat.

Two existing Frontex missions, called Hermes and Aenaes, would be merged together and 'upgraded' to form the new programme.

However when speaking to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the 3 September 2014, Mrs Malmström stressed that Frontex Plus would be complementary to Italy's Mare Nostrum and would not replace it. She was unable to clarify the mission's mandate, operational details, and costs, adding that it required member state resources.

According to Christopher Hein, Director of the Italian Refugee Council, plans to restrict Frontex operations to an area close to the Italian coast could jeopardise lives should Italy’s Mare Nostrum be phased out.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Italy pushes 'Frontex Plus' to tackle migration crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-pushes-frontex-plus-to-tackle-migration-crisis/

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The Local.it, 28.08.14: Migrant plan unveiled as Italy struggles with surge http://www.thelocal.it/20140828/eu-rescue-plan-unveiled-as-boat-migrant-numbers-soar

European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/256: Statement from Commissioner Malmström following the recent tragedies in the Mediterranean http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-256_en.htm

European Commission: DG Home Affairs: What we do: Policies: International Affairs http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/international-affairs/index_en.htm

http://frontex.europa.eu/ http://frontex.europa.eu/

EUObserver, 28.08.14: EU mission to help Italy save boat migrants http://euobserver.com/news/125377

EurActiv, 28.08.14: Commission to help Italy cope with immigrants http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/commission-takes-step-help-italy-cope-immigrant-wave-308032

Deutsche Welle, 28.08.14: EU to help Italy rescue migrants at sea http://dw.de/p/1D3D1

Corriere della Sera, 29.08.14: Frontex Plus won't help refugees either (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE149499-Frontex-Plus-won-t-help-refugees-either

The Guardian, 29.08.14: UN warning over Mediterranean crossing patrol force from EU http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/un-eu-mediterranean-frontex-mare-nostrum-italy

UNHCR: News Stories, 26.08.14: High seas tragedies leave more than 300 dead on the Mediterranean in past week http://www.unhcr.org/53fc58969.html

The Local.de, 02.09.14: Germany to help with Mediterranean refugees http://www.thelocal.de/20140902/germany-to-help-with-mediterranean-refugees-italy-frontex

EUObserver, 03.09.14: EU migrant mission will not replace Mare Nostrum http://euobserver.com/justice/125456

EUObserver, 09.09.14: International waters likely off limits to EU migrant mission http://euobserver.com/justice/125535

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