Only a month ago, Giorgia Meloni stepped into the role of Italy’s prime minister, and the country faced fresh strains in its asylum and immigration policy. A growing number of migrants and the ongoing debates around entry controls highlighted the fragility of the current approach. In the face of renewed challenges, the European Commission was pressed to craft a concise action plan with around twenty measures to prevent repeat situations, such as the SOS Méditerranée case, where a vessel carrying hundreds of migrants was forced to seek a port after Italy declined to admit it directly to its nearest port.
“Recent events show the situation is not sustainable,” warned Ylva Johansson, the Home Affairs Commissioner. She cited a 50% rise in irregular entries on the central Mediterranean route since 2021, with totals approaching 90,000. During an extraordinary EU interior ministers council convened under the Czech presidency, member states sought to calm tensions between Paris and Rome and to push Brussels to contribute to a plan that would speed up refugee resettlement and the repatriation process for those not eligible for protection in the EU.
The proposed document revisits ideas discussed within the framework of the Asylum and Migration Pact, which has faced repeated stalemates. It centers on three pillars: strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit, improving coordination among all actors involved in rescue and return operations, and speeding up the removal of those not entitled to stay in the EU. Brussels noted that a large share of arrivals along this route pass through Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, and Bangladesh and that many do not meet asylum criteria.
special boat paper
“A significant majority of those arriving are not in need of international protection. This year, 11,000 Bangladeshis reached Europe via Libya. This is not a route the EU should rely on,” Johansson stated, stressing that member states must provide assistance in accordance with maritime law and the realities of the sea. She added that the situation has changed since the original legislation was adopted and that the navy’s role must be discussed with international bodies. Private boats often play a key role in rescue operations.
On the policy front, the plan calls for a dozen initiatives to shape and implement a regional program that fights irregular migration and curbs human trafficking in North Africa. It also emphasizes intensified cooperation with Frontex, the EU border agency, and aims to coordinate joint diplomatic efforts with the EU mission in Libya and Niger, alongside third countries where irregular migrants are sourced or diverted. Swiftly launching targeted repatriation operations is a priority in these talks.
In addition, the plan calls for precise assessments of the Central Mediterranean situation to identify where external support is most needed and to foster ongoing dialogue among EU states through joint operations, aerial and maritime surveillance, capacity-building, and up-to-date information on border conditions. The littoral states and the International Maritime Organization are strengthening the solidarity mechanism agreed in June, with countries like France pledging to resettle thousands. Johansson acknowledged that while progress has been made, more is required to meet the evolving challenges across Europe’s borders and seas.