Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the challenges Italy has with the increased numbers of immigrants from Libya and African countries; and if the EU will assist more [32471/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Italy and Greece have for the past two years been at the centre of the EU migration crisis. Following the deal agreed between EU Heads of State and Government and Turkey in March 2016 the migration pressure moved from Greece to Italy. More than have risked the Mediterranean crossing to reach Italy so far this year, a 20% increase over the same period in 2016, according to figures from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). At least 2,150 others have died trying. The vast majority of migrants are arriving via Libya. Most migrants are coming from sub-Saharan Africa. According to UN High Commission for Refugees, the top two nationalities arriving in Italy by sea in 2016 were Nigerians (21%) and Eritreans (11%).

Italy is experiencing increasing difficulties trying to manage this influx of people and recently threatened to close its ports to rescue ships operated by humanitarian groups that were not flying the Italian flag unless they received more help from other EU members.

Earlier this month the European Commission announced to help Italy cope with the Central Mediterranean influx.

The plan inter aliacalls on EU ministers to approve:

- €46m to help Libya strengthen border controls and tackle the smuggling gangs

- €35m more for Italy to step up processing of migrants and returns of failed asylum seekers

- The stepping up of work with African countries, including Mali and Niger, to stem the flow of migrants.

The Commission has called on Italy to introduce a Code of Conduct for NGOs carrying out search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean. It said that the proposal was being made because their activities might be a "pull factor" encouraging people to risk their lives in flimsy dinghies in the hope of being picked up and then ferried over to Italy.

The Commission also called on Italy to show greater flexibility on security checks arranged bilaterally with other Member States allowing migrants to be relocated from Italy more speedily.

The June European Council agreed to step up coordination and delivery on all the elements contained in the Malta Declaration, the Partnership Framework and the Joint Valletta Action Plan, underpinned by sufficient financial resources. This would involve continued and enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and transit, including strengthening regional cooperation in Search and Rescue activities. The European Council said that training and equipping the Libyan Coast Guard was a key component of the EU approach and promised to speed it up.

Meanwhile the Interior ministers of France, Germany and Italy along with the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, met in Paris on 2 July and agreed, inter alia, to enhance support to the Libyan coastguard by increasing training activities and providing additional financial support while at the same time ensuring close monitoring of activities and to provide additional support to the IOM and the UNHCR to enable facilities in Libya to reach international standards in terms of living conditions and human rights. They also agreed that the EU Relocation scheme agreed in 2015. Progress in its implementation has encountered various difficulties and has been very slow.