‘Irregular migration is a European challenge and it needs a European answer’

France and Germany have expressed support for a new migrant action plan proposed by the European Commission, which is in line with Italy's tough approach on migration.

After years of negotiations, the European Commission has finally taken a position on the migrant issue, the harshest one.

Brussels will in fact back the Italian far right government's hard-line stance on migration.

Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has welcomed a ten point plan on migrants presented by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, in Lampedusa on Sunday.

I'm confident the issue of migration will be added to the agenda of the next EU summit in October.

We must stop departures from Africa and swiftly deport those turned down for asylum.

The future of Europe is at stake here.

Georgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy

• EU migrant crisis: Germany, France support new action plan
  

  EU migrant crisis: Germany, France support new action plan

  France and Germany support a new migrant action plan proposed by the European Commission.

Following a surge in migrant arrivals on the shores of Italy, von der Leyen visited the south island of Lampedusa on Sunday, where the situation has been tense since the start of the year, with thousands of migrants stranded in difficult conditions.

Ursula von der Leyen announced a new migrant action plan which includes fighting trafficking, returning migrants to the countries of origin, and, transferring migrants from Italy to other EU member states.

It is very important for me because irregular migration is a European challenge and it needs a European answer. So we are in this together.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

• 'Future of Europe at stake' over migrant crisis: Italian PM
  

  'Future of Europe at stake' over migrant crisis: Italian PM

  Italy has warned that the future of the Europe is at stake due to an increase in migrants and refugees arriving in the continent.

Germany has promptly expressed its support for another proposal made by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, which concerns expanding air and naval surveillance of the European Union's external borders.

Some experts are of the view that such a measure would be against international maritime law as EU ships would not be allowed to operate in territorial zones, where only North African states have jurisdiction.

Air and naval surveillance of the Mediterranean by the EU would be equivalent to a warlike act.

We all know what has happened to Libya after the French led NATO attack.

All migrants countries of origin must be involved in a more democratic process of handling the migrants also von der Leyen's Ten Point Plan on migrants is full of inconsistencies.

Ahmed Ejaz, Migration Analyst

• Criminal EU refugee policy cause of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean
  

  Criminal EU refugee policy has led to 441 migrant deaths in the Mediterranean

  The International Organization for Migration, a UN body, says more than 20,000 refugees have drowned in the Central Mediterranean since 2014 whilst trying to reach the EU.

Meanwhile, French interior minister Gérald Darmanin made a lightning visit to Italy on Monday.

In an interview with radio Europe 1, Darmanin said that France is willing to help Italy to secure its borders, but it will not take in any migrants from the island of Lampedusa.

• EU refugee crisis
  

  EU refugee crisis

  A group of African Human rights activists have condemned Europe

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