Brussels 17.09.2023 EU top civil servant Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived on the island of Lampedusa on Sunday, 17 September, morning amid growing tensions related to a surge in migrant arrivals.

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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have arrived on the island of Lampedusa, which experienced 8,500 undocumented migrants land on its shores this week.

On their way from the airport to the migrant reception centre at Imbriacola, indignant local people blocked the convoy, prompting a promise of action from the Italian premier.

“We are doing everything we can”, said Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.

Von der Leyen and Meloni are set to hold a joint press conference at 11:20 CET.

Von der Leyen’s spokesperson, Eric Mamer, confirmed that she would make the trip at the invitation of Meloni, who vowed “extraordinary measures” to deal with an influx of migrants, calling anew for a naval blockade of North Africa and saying that Europe needs a “paradigm” change to deal with issues pushing migration.

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French politician Nicolas Dupont-Aignan said: “We must take control of our migration policies and cooperate between countries [..] it is about putting an end to this borderless system which disempowers everyone and which leads to anarchy”. During #LeGrandRDV TV program he accused Ursula von der Leyen in promoting the mass migration, and her visit to Lampedusa as a mockery: “Madame von der Leyen looks like a pyromaniac visiting fire she caused”, reminding that a few days ago she confirmed her intent to support migration during her State of Union speech in Strasbourg. However illegal mass migration is not what Europe needs, he continued, pointing out that the EU policy of mass migration is conducted at costs of own population, contributing to aggravation of existing problems.