Lampedusa's Migrant Crisis: EU Chief Takes Action

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited the Italian island of Lampedusa and pledged a 10-point EU action plan to assist Italy in dealing with the surge in migrant arrivals. The plan includes using Frontex to identify and repatriate migrants not eligible for asylum, increasing sea and aerial surveillance, and cracking down on people-smugglers. Von der Leyen also promised to speed up the supply of equipment to Tunisia's coastguard, increase access to legal channels for migrants, and battle against traffickers. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the need to prevent people from leaving for Europe rather than redistributing migrants within the bloc.