Hundreds of migrants have died as the boat they were traveling on capsized. Survivors have confirmed that many perished making the dangerous journey to the EU Monday.
This latest tragedy has caused campaigners to request urgent and immediate action to prevent any more lives being lost in the Mediterranean.
Search & rescue in Mediterranean is not a pull factor for refugees just as ambulance service not a pull factor for reckless behaviour in UK.
— Asylum Aid (@AsylumAid) April 18, 2016
The Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) has called the recent deaths "meaningless" in a statement on their website. They have also said that a solution must be established in order to help the Italian government formulate a plan that will stop any more migrants and refugees dying at sea.
New tragedy calls for EU to intervene now on the North African routes, says @giannipittella https://t.co/zAujIZbEcW #EUwakeUp
— S&D Group (@TheProgressives) April 18, 2016
"The new, umpteenth, tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea demonstrated that the migration crisis is far from being solved. It was easily foreseeable, with the summer approaching and the closing of the Balkan route, that more and more migrants will attempt the perilous sea crossing from North Africa," S&D president Gianni Pittella said.
The S&D believe that time is of the essence in order to prevent further deaths.
"There is no more time to waste. Member states should make full use of the Migration Compact recently tabled by the Italian government. It should be examined as a matter of priority as it could turn out to be the very last lifeline for Europe. We call on the Foreign Council today to give a positive reaction to this."
The S&D also made reference to the death six months ago of Aylan Kurdi, who's body washed up on a Turkish beach. Stating that this tragedy should have been a wake up call and turning point for Europe, but in reality little has changed.
"Despite the initial expressions of outrage and calls for action, far too little action has been taken. The Commission and national governments must now finally act to prevent more needless deaths," a statement on the S&D website read.