Italy’s government is set to ask the European Union to pay Libya to stop migrant boats leaving its coast, newspaper la Repubblica reported on Tuesday.
The scheme, which the newspaper says Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi may propose to EU leaders at a summit on May 24 and 25, would be similar to a deal struck with Turkey to halt migrant flows from the Balkans in 2016.
Draghi’s office was not immediately available to comment.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The report comes after a recent surge in migrant flows from Libya to Italy. The Italian island of Lampedusa – one of the main landing points for people trying to get into Europe from Africa – has seen over 2,000 arrivals since Sunday.
The migrants, arriving on small and perilous boats run by people-traffickers, have overwhelmed the tiny island’s reception center and are now being transferred elsewhere in Italy.
The vast majority of African migrants heading for Europe by sea depart from Libya.
In 2019, Rome agreed a plan with other European states to redistribute migrants after they arrived, but the scheme was voluntary and has not provided a stable solution.
Since the 2016 deal, Turkey is entitled to financial aid from Brussels in exchange for hosting refugees – mostly from Syria – who try to reach Europe from the Balkans.
The migration issue divides European governments and has fueled the rise of anti-immigration parties across the continent. In Italy, the right-wing League is part of Draghi’s national unity government and is pressing Draghi to take action.
Some 13,000 migrants disembarked on Italy’s coasts from the start of 2021 to May 10, up from 4,184 in the same period last year, interior ministry data shows.
Read more:
Over 200 migrants, including unaccompanied minors, arrive in Sicily on rescue ship
Foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy arrive in Libya
Over 600 Europe-bound migrants returned to Libya, navy says
Libya coastguard warns Italians against ‘illegal’ fishing in its waters
-
Washington names ambassador Richard Norland as special envoy for Libya
The United States on Monday named Richard Norland, US ambassador to Libya, as the US special envoy for the country, the State Department said, to lead ... North Africa -
Five migrants drowned, over 700 intercepted off Libya: UN
At least five people, including a woman and a child, drowned when a boat carrying at least 45 Europe-bound migrants capsized off Libya, a UN migration ... North Africa -
Libyan militias briefly take over Tripoli gov’t headquarters
In a show of force, armed militiamen briefly took over a hotel in the Libyan capital of Tripoli that serves as headquarters for the interim government ... Middle East -
Libya’s interim PM postpones visit to country’s east amid friction between rivals
Libya’s new interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah will postpone a visit to the country’s east that had been planned for Monday to demonstrate his ... North Africa -
Ankara says better ties with Cairo could boost Libya peace efforts: Erdogan’s adviser
Turkish talks with Egypt next week could forge renewed cooperation between the estranged regional powers and help efforts to end the war in Libya, ... Middle East