Everything possible must be done to
prevent migrant deaths at sea, European Commission spokesperson
Dana Spinant said on Monday, the day after a boat carrying 47
refugees and migrants capsized off Libya leaving 30 people
feared dead.
"The idea that every life lost at sea is one life lost too many
and that we must all do everything we can to prevent this from
happening again is always on the mind" of Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen, Spinant told journalists in Brussels.
The 17 survivors were rescued by the merchant ship Froland and
will be disembarked in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo later on
Monday.
"Part of the EU's support to Libya is to try to stabilize the
situation and enhance its border management capabilities," said
spokesperson Ana Pisonero.
To this end the Libyan coast guard will be receiving "more
patrol boats", she added.
"There is clearly a need to strengthen Libyan capacity, because
they do not always have the means (to manage the borders)", she
added.
"When there are people in danger it is mandatory to intervene,"
said Pisonero.
European coordination in relation to migrant boats in the
Mediterranean "does not include operational discussions" about
rescue operations, added Spinant.
"The European Commission has neither the capacity nor the
expertise to intervene," she continued.
"Dismantling the activities of migrant traffickers is something
we all want to pursue at the European level," said Spinant in
answer to a question about a new clamp-down in Italy against
traffickers and smugglers introduced by a recent government
decree.
"They are reckless people who are getting rich on the back of
desperation and the risks migrants take to reach Europe.
"This is a goal that very clearly we all share," she concluded.
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