The European Commission representative, Natasha Bertaud, reiterated the organization’s intention to announce a new complete strategy to combat migrant smuggling in Europe, in the near future.
Bertaud reminded the Greek Commissioner of Immigration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, of his commitment in regards to the need for action against smugglers who continue to find new routes into Europe by implementing new methods and taking advantage of desperate people fleeing countries plagued with conflict and war.
Meanwhile, Avramopoulos stressed that the fight against migrant smuggling is one of his top priorities. He also congratulated Italian authorities on their success in facing the cases of “Ezadeen” and “Blue Sky M,” noting that their actions saved hundreds of lives in peril.
“We will not allow smugglers to put people’s lives in danger in old and abandoned ships, amidst terrible weather conditions. Addressing the issue of illegal migrant transport will be one of our top priorities in our collective plan regarding migration that will be submitted in the near future. We will move forward willingly and decisively,” he concluded.