Both leaders have stressed that irregular migration needs to be stopped as it challenges the future of Europe.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni have toured a migrant centre on Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa that was overwhelmed with nearly 7,000 arrivals in a 24-hour period this week.
Television images on Sunday showed Meloni speaking to islanders expressing their frustrations; she told them the government was working on a robust response, including $53.4 million (€50 million) to help the island. An unidentified person in the crowd said it wasn’t just money that they needed.
At a press conference with von der Leyen during a visit to the island, Meloni said the bloc needed to work together to face the challenges of uncontrolled migration.
It is “the future that Europe wants for itself that is at stake here, because the future of Europe depends on Europe’s capacity to face major challenges,” Meloni said.
Tensions have spiked on the island in the days since, with residents expressing impatience with the constant flow of migrants trying to reach Europe from North Africa arriving on their shores, with occasional spikes, for decades.
“Irregular immigration is a European challenge that needs a European response,” von der Leyen said, calling on other members of the bloc to take in some of the migrants.
New arrivals also have chafed at the long wait to be transferred to the mainland; TV footage on Saturday showed hundreds surging toward the gate as police used shields to hold them back.
In other shots, single migrants climbed over the fence of the migrant centre. Some 2,000 remained this weekend after another 500 arrived on Saturday.
Italy’s Meloni seeks naval blockade of North Africa to quell refugee influx
Migrant crisis sparks divisions within EU
In the face of the crisis, Meloni has pledged tougher measures and is calling for a naval blockade of North Africa to prevent migrants on smugglers’ boats from departing.
Her interior minister on Saturday held a video call with counterparts from the European Union including France, Germany and Spain to seek a common line.
The crisis is challenging unity within the EU and also Meloni’s far-right-led government.
Vice Premier Matteo Salvini, head of the populist, right-wing League, has challenged the efficacy of an EU-Tunisia deal that was meant to halt departures in exchange for economic aid.
He is hosting French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen at an annual League rally in northern Italy later Sunday.
Most of the migrants arriving this week departed from Tunisia.
The number of migrants making the perilous sea journey to Italy has doubled over last year and is on pace to reach record numbers hit in 2016.