class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>
In her own words, ultra-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to take “extraordinary measures”. She had already announced decisions to tighten detention pending deportation and the establishment of deportation detention centers by the military. On Sunday, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, assured Italy of European support.
Thousands of migrants arrived last week on the small island in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. On Tuesday alone, authorities counted around 5,000 people reaching the island’s port by boat – more than ever before in a single day. Many people have now been transferred from Lampedusa to Sicily or to accommodation on the mainland. Yet the island’s first reception center is still completely overloaded.
Prime Minister Meloni had already made it clear in a video message on social media on Friday evening that the focus of the resolutions should be on extending the maximum detention period for deportations to 18 months. According to EU law, this is the maximum allowed. By tightening detention pending deportation, Meloni wants to ensure that those who have entered the country illegally can be held for as long as necessary for the processing of the relevant asylum application. This should make possible deportation easier.
In addition, the Ministry of Defense should be tasked with creating structures to detain migrants who have entered the country illegally. According to Meloni, the facilities should be built “in remote, sparsely populated areas” that can be easily isolated and monitored.
Meanwhile, European Commission head Von der Leyen assured Italy of European support during her short visit to Lampedusa on Sunday. According to her, the Mediterranean Sea needs to be monitored more closely. “We can do this through Frontex,” she said, referring to the EU border protection agency. She added that she supported exploring options for expanding naval operations in the Mediterranean or working on new operations. “We will decide who comes to the European Union – and under what circumstances. And not the smugglers.”
Meloni called for tougher action against migrants. People in North Africa should be prevented from crossing to Europe. Redistributing people across the Member States does not solve the problem. She said it was up to the entire EU to tackle the situation.
Due to high migration numbers, Meloni is under enormous domestic political pressure. According to the Ministry of the Interior, more than 127,200 people have already reached the country via the Mediterranean Sea this year (as of September 15). In the same period last year there were approximately 66,200.
Former Federal President Joachim Gauck spoke out in favor of a “new determination” in European refugee policy. In the ZDF program “Berlin Direkt” on Sunday evening, Gauck said that politicians must discover “that the measures taken so far have not been sufficient to remedy the loss of control that has clearly occurred.” A “new determination” should give the European population the impression that governments are willing and able to take action. “And this obviously requires a debate about new ways and not just adjusting the adjustment screws.” (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
