Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis said relying on the EU Pact on Migration is not enough in the fight against undocumented migration, and called on individual governments within the Med5 region to make use of their own legal frameworks for better results.
After more than 2,000 migrants landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa over the weekend, various EU member states have reacted to the situation. Italy is calling once again for EU solidarity, but how would it be enacted and which member states will come forward to help?
Ministers from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain have met in Athens to call for changes to the EU's pact on migration and asylum. They pushed for an EU-wide repatriation mechanism.
The European Union aims to step up pressure on countries to take back migrants refused the right to remain in EU member states. The debate follows a report on how well third countries have cooperated on returns.
Pope Francis expressed "concern for the situation of displaced people in various parts of the world", highlighting the urgent need to "renew the commitment to the protection of refugees and people fleeing violence and persecution."
Europe is increasing pressure on African countries to take back migrants in exchange for development aid. But the EU should instead be focusing on creating safe routes to seek protection, analysts have warned.
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio have urged Europe to display more courage and commitment regarding the new pact on migration. The politicians consider the reform plan "insufficient," albeit a "good starting point."
Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain say that the new migration pact – as proposed by the European Commission – fails to do enough to systemically redistribute new migrants arriving in the southern EU member states. The four Mediterranean countries expressed their demands in a discussion paper seen by the German news agency dpa.
More than four months ago the Greek government evicted around 11,000 recognized refugees from camps and reception facilities. Today, many remain homeless in central Athens.