The European Union on Sunday called an emergency meeting of ministers to discuss what its top EU diplomat said was the "unacceptable" tragedy of up to 700 people feared drowned in the latest Mediterranean migrant shipwreck.
As many as 700 people are feared dead after a fishing boat packed with migrants capsized off the Libyan coast overnight.
The European Commission said the meeting would involve foreign and interior ministers from the 28-member bloc, but gave no date.
"The reality is stark and our actions must therefore be bold. These are human lives at stake, and the European Union as a whole has a moral and humanitarian obligation to act," it said in a statement.
The Commission said it is consulting with member states, European agencies and international organisations to prepare a new European migration strategy, which it would adopt in mid-May.
"What we need is immediate actions to prevent further loss of life as well as a comprehensive approach to managing migration better in all its aspects."
French President Francois Hollande called earlier Sunday for such a meeting, saying Europe "must act" against the growing catalogue of mass drownings of migrants attempting to reach its shores, and calling for closer surveillance of the routes used by people smugglers.
'Words won't do anymore'
Many EU governments are reluctant to fund rescue operations in the Mediterranean for fear of encouraging more people to make the crossing in search of a better life in Europe.
In indirect criticism of northern EU countries that have so far left rescue operations to southern states such as Italy, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said: "We need to save human lives all together, as all together we need to protect our borders and to fight the trafficking of human beings."
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also urged the EU to take swift action after what could become the Mediterranean’s deadliest known migrant sea disaster.
"Today, and this is the umpteenth time, we hear of yet another human tragedy in the Mediterranean, off the Libyan coast," Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a political rally Sunday. "It’s a daily drama. Three days ago it was 400 people."
Rajoy says a response has to come from Europe and that "words won’t do anymore." He says "we have to act, and as Europeans we are gambling with our credibility if we aren’t able to stop these dramatic situations, that are now happening on a daily basis."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters)
france24.com
19/4/15
As many as 700 people are feared dead after a fishing boat packed with migrants capsized off the Libyan coast overnight.
The European Commission said the meeting would involve foreign and interior ministers from the 28-member bloc, but gave no date.
"The reality is stark and our actions must therefore be bold. These are human lives at stake, and the European Union as a whole has a moral and humanitarian obligation to act," it said in a statement.
The Commission said it is consulting with member states, European agencies and international organisations to prepare a new European migration strategy, which it would adopt in mid-May.
"What we need is immediate actions to prevent further loss of life as well as a comprehensive approach to managing migration better in all its aspects."
French President Francois Hollande called earlier Sunday for such a meeting, saying Europe "must act" against the growing catalogue of mass drownings of migrants attempting to reach its shores, and calling for closer surveillance of the routes used by people smugglers.
'Words won't do anymore'
Many EU governments are reluctant to fund rescue operations in the Mediterranean for fear of encouraging more people to make the crossing in search of a better life in Europe.
In indirect criticism of northern EU countries that have so far left rescue operations to southern states such as Italy, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said: "We need to save human lives all together, as all together we need to protect our borders and to fight the trafficking of human beings."
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also urged the EU to take swift action after what could become the Mediterranean’s deadliest known migrant sea disaster.
"Today, and this is the umpteenth time, we hear of yet another human tragedy in the Mediterranean, off the Libyan coast," Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a political rally Sunday. "It’s a daily drama. Three days ago it was 400 people."
Rajoy says a response has to come from Europe and that "words won’t do anymore." He says "we have to act, and as Europeans we are gambling with our credibility if we aren’t able to stop these dramatic situations, that are now happening on a daily basis."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters)
france24.com
19/4/15
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Neue Flüchtlingstragödie: "Das Mittelmeer ist ein Massengrab"...
ReplyDeleteIm Mittelmeer hat sich offenbar die schwerste Flüchtlingstragödie seit Jahren ereignet. 700 Menschen könnten ums Leben gekommen sein. Schuld daran trägt für italienische Politiker auch die EU.
Die Ausmaß der Tragödie lässt sich, wie so oft nach Unglücken dieser Art, erst im Ansatz erahnen. Ein Fischkutter mit 700 Menschen an Bord ist in der Nacht zum Sonntag im Kanal von Sizilien, etwa 60 Seemeilen vor der libyschen Küste, in Seenot geraten und gekentert. Dabei dürften fast alle Insassen ums Leben gekommen sein. Bisher wurden 23 Tote geborgen.........n24.de
Press release on the High Representative and Vice-president Federica Mogherini's meeting with Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi...
ReplyDeleteThe HRVP Federica Mogherini had today a meeting with the Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi after the new tragedy of migrants drowned in the Mediterranean. HRVP Mogherini and Prime Minister Renzi discussed on the European response, in view of the Foreign affairs Council that will meet tomorrow in Luxembourg, and of the next steps the EU is going to take to tackle human trafficking and smuggling in an effective and truly European way.
The HRVP thanked the authorities of Italy for their extraordinary efforts to save lives.
The HRVP and the Italian prime Minister agreed that only with European policies on migration these tragedies can be prevented.
http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150419_03_en.htm
European Council President Donald Tusk is considering calling a special summit of EU leaders on the refugee crisis around the Mediterranean and will take a decision after consultations, his spokesman said on Sunday...
ReplyDeleteTusk himself tweeted that he was talking to EU leaders, the European Commission and its foreign service on "how to alleviate (the) situation" after a fishing boat capsized overnight off the Libyan coast, killing as many as 700 migrants.
After the consultations, the spokesman said, the former Polish prime minister who now chairs the Council of EU leaders would decide on a possible extraordinary summit.
Reuters
19/4/15
Les tentatives de l'Union européenne pour gérer les flux migratoires...
ReplyDeleteAvec les naufrages qui se succèdent en Méditerranée, on est en droit de se demander ce que fait l'Union européenne pour gérer ces flux migratoires. Ce n'est bien sûr pas la première fois que l'Union est confrontée à de tels drames et à des accusations de non-assistance à personne en danger. Les États membres n'en finissent pas de parler de solidarité mais dans les faits, elle est très rarement appliquée.......rtbf.be
20/4/15