Commissioner Malmström's intervention on Lampedusa during the Home Affairs Council press conference

EU News 428/2013

MEMO/13/864
Luxembourg, 8 October 2013

Today I have proposed to deploy an extensive Frontex search and rescue operation that will cover the Mediterranean from Cyprus to Spain. I have asked the Ministers to give their political support and to make the necessary resources available. Such an operation will help lead to quicker tracking, identifying and the rescuing of more vessels and boats. And therefore prevent the loss of lives at sea. The European Union will also benefit, as of December from the technology and information sharing tools available through the EUROSUR system.

The first reactions from Member States are encouraging and we will now look at how we can define the operation in more detail. The Directorate-General for Home Affairs and Frontex will be working along with the Member States' authorities to swiftly address the needs and priorities in order to quickly move to the organisation of the operation.

Source: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-864_en.htm?locale=en

Related: Candlelight outside the EP in Strasbourg to commemorate the victims of Lampedusa disaster, 2013/10/08 © European Union 2013 - European Parliament URL

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