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EU Border Agency Needs More Resources to Deal With Migrants Influx

© AFP 2023 / MARCELLO PATERNOSTROMigrants wait to disembark from a ship in the port of Porto Empedocle, south Sicily, following a rescue operation of migrants as part of the International Frontex plan (Triton)
Migrants wait to disembark from a ship in the port of Porto Empedocle, south Sicily, following a rescue operation of migrants as part of the International Frontex plan (Triton) - Sputnik International
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EU border agency Frontex says it needs practical support from the EU in order to deal with the rapidly growing influx of migrants.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Anastasia Levchenko — EU border agency Frontex needs practical support from the EU in order to deal with the rapidly growing influx of migrants, the agency told Sputnik on Friday.

With the continued activity of ISIL militants in the Middle East, the number of migrants from Africa crossing the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe has increased dramatically in the last few months. On Thursday, current migratory pressures, as well as operational capacities of Frontex were discussed at the EU Home Affairs Council.

"Frontex cannot cope on its own with this situation. More resources from the EU, as well as a technical contribution in form of technical means, are needed from EU member states," Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri said in a statement e-mailed to Sputnik.

At the same time, Frontex spokeswoman Izabella Cooper emphasized that the agency had not requested additional funds.

The Frontex Joint Operation Triton, the EU operation focused on supporting Italy in patroling borders in the Mediterranean region, will be extended at least until the end of 2015. - Sputnik International
EU to Extend Italian Border Control Operation Amid Migrant Flow
"Preparedness means husbanding Europe's resources jointly and efficiently via united action. Frontex and its partner EU agencies and international organizations will keep on working together to be able to handle this situation," Leggeri said.

Frontex together with Italian authorities managed to save the lives of more than 1000 migrants in early March, when a new accident occurred in the Mediterranean. The EU agency, in particular, rescued almost 300 migrants, as EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said in his remarks after the discussion on Thursday.

The debate on Thursday among EU interior ministers on the ways to work more closely with transit countries to deal with migratory flows did not result in a common decision by the participants. The debate will continue on March 16, when the EU Foreign Affairs Council will address the external dimension of these issues.

Frontex estimates that over 276,000 people entered the EU illegally in 2014, which marked a 155-percent increase compared to 2013 figures. For the most part, the migrants arrived at the Spanish and Italian coasts from North Africa by sea.

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