Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni invited European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the so-called “hotspot” in Lampedusa, following the unprecedented increase in migrant arrivals to the Mediterranean island in recent days, DPA and Agerpres report on Saturday.
Giorgia MeloniPhoto: Damian Burzykowski / Zuma Press / Profimedia
Meloni implored the EU leader to visit the island “to realize personally the gravity of the situation we are in” in a video message on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday evening.
Since the beginning of the week, thousands of migrants have arrived by boat on the small island between Sicily and North Africa.
On Tuesday alone, more than 5,000 people arrived in Lampedusa – more than ever in a single day. At one point, there were around 6,800 people in the reception center.
Due to its proximity to the Tunisian coastal city of Sfax, Lampedusa has long been a migration hotspot for people trying to reach Europe. The island’s municipal council declared a state of emergency on Wednesday evening in response to the situation.
“The migratory pressure that Italy has been experiencing since the beginning of this year is unsustainable,” Meloni said. However, she added, it is clear that Italy and Europe cannot cope with the number of migrants arriving on its shores.
Meloni said he would decide on “exceptional measures” on Monday, such as extending the time refugees are allowed to stay in asylum centers.
Italy has been ruled by a right-wing alliance led by far-right Meloni since October 2022. One of her promises was to crack down on migration.
So far, more migrants are arriving than before.
According to figures from the Interior Ministry in Rome, around 127,200 people arrived in Italy by boat from the beginning of the year to September 15. The figure was around 66,200 in the same period last year.
