Central Mediterranean Route: Commission proposes Action Plan to support Italy, reduce pressure and increase solidarity

Further information:

The Action Plan comprises a set of five areas:

+ saving lives;
+ fighting human trafficking in Libya;
+ cooperating with partner countries;
+ stepping up returns;
+ EU solidarity.

The measures presented in this plan were the basis of discussions on immediate support for Italy that was scheduled to take place at the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 6 July 2017.

Background:

This Action Plan followed a formal request for help from Italy on 28 June 2017, given the increasing number of migrants using the Central Mediterranean Route to enter Europe from northern Africa. On 2 July 2017, the Commissioner for Refugees met with the Interior Ministers of Italy, France and Germany to discuss a 'coordinated approach' to help Italy.

The European Commission set out on 4 July 2017 a series of measures to be taken by the EU institutions and agencies, Italy and the other Member States, in response to increasing pressure from migrants along the Central Mediterranean Route.

The European Commission welcomed the approval of the action plan by EU Member States at an Informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers (JHA) in Tallinn on the 6 July 2017

• Primary Source

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

EurActiv, 05.07.17: Commission unveils migrant ‘action plan’ for Italy http://www.euractiv.com/section/africa/news/commission-unveils-migrant-action-plan-for-italy/

Reuters, 04.07.17: EU offers Italy migrant help, cautions private rescuers http://in.reuters.com/article/europe-migrants-eu-italy-idINKBN19P1UQ

Deutsche Welle, 04.07.17: [Opinion] Migration crisis: Italy’s threats a plea for help http://p.dw.com/p/2fvxq

EUObserver, 04.07.17: EU has 'no silver bullet' for Italy on migrants https://euobserver.com/migration/138435

Human Rights Watch: News, 04.07.17: EU: Boat Migration Demands Shared Responsibility https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/07/04/eu-boat-migration-demands-shared-responsibility

European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/1933, 06.07.17: Central Mediterranean Route: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos following the informal JHA Council in Tallinn http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-1933_en.htm

The Guardian, 05.07.17: EU appeals for refugee aid as Mediterranean death toll continues to rise https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/05/eu-call-to-aid-vulnerable-refugees-amid-rising-mediterranean-death-toll

Politico, 04-06.07.17: For Europe and migrants, it looks like 2015 all over again http://www.politico.eu/article/for-europe-and-migrants-it-looks-like-2015-all-over-again/

Politico, 06.07.17: Today at Commission, migration plan http://www.politico.eu/blogs/playbook-plus/2017/07/european-commission-briefing-migration-plan/

EurActiv, 07.07.17: No new measures to help Italy adopted at Tallinn ministerial meeting http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/no-new-measures-to-help-italy-adopted-at-tallinn-ministerial-meeting/

EUObserver, 06.07.17: Italian ports left alone to handle EU migrants https://euobserver.com/migration/138455

Politico, 06.07.17: Germany rejects Italian proposal to open EU ports to migrants http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-rejects-italian-proposal-to-open-eu-ports-to-migrants/

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