VP/HR — Illegal immigration encouraged by the Mare Nostrum operation

16.3.2015

Question for written answer E-004267-15
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Marine Le Pen (NI) , Edouard Ferrand (NI) , Gilles Lebreton (NI)

Some Italian opposition parties have criticised their government regarding the Mare Nostrum operation. According to them, it has even increased migratory flows towards Italy and the rest of the EU.

This hypothesis has now been confirmed in the July-September 2014 issue of FRAN Quarterly, published by Frontex: ‘Criminal facilitation networks exploited the presence of Italian vessels deployed in the proximity of the Libyan coast under the Operation Mare Nostrum, often using unseaworthy and overcrowded boats and counting on the prompt engagement of Italian search and rescue capacities’ (p. 5).

What steps does the Commission plan to propose, to prevent rescue operations by Frontex and the Member States encouraging illegal immigration and benefitting people-trafficking networks?