European Border and Coast Guard

Migrants trying to sail from Turkey to Greece are increasingly reporting being attacked by gunmen trying to prevent them from reaching Europe, according to multiple sources.

Countries such as Italy and Greece dealing with an influx of asylum seekers should receive more support from other member states, MEPs said on a delegation visit to the Italian island of Sicily from July 22-24. “Italy spends over €1 billion every year just to take care of those who make it across the Mediterranean.

By European Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos

Honorable Members of the European Parliament;

After years in which we have seen migrants dying at our doorstep; in which we have seen the trust of our citizens in the European Institutions diminish, it was time to be visionary and bold.

Some 3,700 migrants have been rescued off Libya's coast in a joint operation of Italian and French navy vessels on Saturday and early Sunday, according to the Italian Coast Guard.

The European Union has doubled the emergency aid to frontline member states Italy, Greece and Malta which have to deal with the massive influx of migrants coming across the Mediterranean to 50 million euros ($54 million) a year.