For example, it is helping to pay for the refurbishment of 17 vessels belonging to Tunisian authorities. "We will speed up the supply of equipment to the Tunisian coast guard," von der Leyen said in Lampedusa.The latest influx is challenging unity within the EU, its member states and also in Meloni's far-right-led government, especially with European elections looming. Darmanin said before he left that France would help Italy maintain its border to prevent people from arriving but is not prepared to take in migrants who have arrived in Lampedusa in recent days. ''Things are getting very difficult in Lampedusa. But there should not be a message given to people coming on our soil that they are welcomed in our countries no matter what," he said on France's Europe-1 radio.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 18, 2023 18:11 UTC