European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has praised Italy’s response to Europe’s irregular migration crisis in a letter to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni just days after a shipwreck killed more than 60 migrants just off the country’s coast. On Tuesday (7 March) Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reiterated that Frontex did not provide them with any warnings or distress calls, during an urgent briefing to parliament. Her right-wing coalition government has also been accused of controversial pushbacks of migrant boats seeking to land. Meanwhile, the missing migrants project estimates that at least 157 people have been reported as missing, presumed dead, so far this year. They also threatened to suspend aid, tariff-free trade and visa access to countries that refuse to take back failed asylum seekers.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 08, 2023 07:39 UTC