Commission awards Italy €13.7 million in emergency asylum funding

The European Commission has announced that it is stepping up its assistance to Italy.

“Firstly, the Frontex Joint Operation Triton will be extended until at least the end of 2015. Secondly, the European commission has awarded an amount of €13.7 million in emergency funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to Italy,” the commission said.

The European commission has said that it also stands ready to react quickly to any Italian request to increase the resources of Joint Operation Triton.

The Commission has announced that it is also stepping up its surveillance of the implementation of the recommendations of the Mediterranean task force to help member states prepare for potentially continued high pressure, given the ongoing instability in some countries in the Mediterranean neighbourhood.

The commission will then report back to the March home affairs council on the progress made.

“This comes on top of the support for Italy in dealing with migratory pressures of a total of more than €500 million for 2014-2020,” it added.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said that as long as there are wars and hardships in the European neighbourhood, people would continue to risk their lives in search of European shores.

“There is no simple solution to this complex problem, but it is clear that there is no national solution. There is only a European solution.”

Timmermans added that the commission was working hard to prepare a comprehensive approach in a new European agenda on migration to be presented this year.

“In the meantime, we have heard Italy's call and are responding in every way we can, and we are ready to respond constructively if Italy identifies the need to step up Operation Triton's resources."

Federica Mogherini, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy/Vice-President of the commission, said that as the commission works to tackle the dramatic situation in Libya, it has decided to step-up its partnership with third countries along the main migratory routes as part of our cooperation on the Khartoum and Rabat processes.

“This should help to dismantle criminal networks of traffickers and smugglers and to give maximum protection to those in need, starting with areas neighbouring crises. Our resettlement efforts have improved and this should help to stabilise refugee communities in third countries, together with the work of the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration," Mogherini said.  

Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said that Europe now we faces a stark reality where Europe needs to manage migration better, in all aspects, which is, above all, a humanitarian imperative.

“No, we cannot replace Italy in the management of the external borders but we can lend a helping hand. So we will extend Operation Triton and we will increase its resources if this is what Italy needs.”

Avrampoulos added that resettlement efforts have improved and the commission is now working to propose a credible number of resettlement places, on a voluntary basis, to offer alternative legal avenues to protection.

“The message we are sending today is very simple: Italy is not alone. Europe stands with Italy."