![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/lampedusa-ursula-von-der-leyen-and-giorgia-meloni-visit-island-after-migrant-boat-fears/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/131111373_microsoftteams-image-1.png&description=Image source, Reuters The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has visited a migrant reception centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa, after the country's prime minister called for EU help with small boat arrivals. More than 8,000 migrants have arrived on the island over the past three days. PM Giorgia Meloni says Italy is being placed under "unsustainable pressure". Ms von der Leyen acknowledged on Sunday that the issue was "a European challenge and needs a European answer". At a news conference with Ms Meloni, she praised the people of Lampedusa for the support they had given to migrants, who she said had arrived on the island "simply because of its location". She pledged to increase support to transfer migrants out of Lampedusa as well as stepping up efforts against people smugglers who enabled dangerous and illegal journeys. The problem could not be solved by Italy alone, Ms Meloni said. It was currently affecting "the borders, the frontier countries" but would soon involve all of the EU states, she said. "The future of Europe depends on its ability to tackle epoch-making challenges of our time and the challenge of illegal immigration is for sure one of them." On Saturday the body of a newborn baby was recovered from a migrant boat. The mother is thought to have given birth during the journey from North Africa, the Ansa news agency reports, and the death is being investigated. The child's body was placed in a white coffin and taken to a cemetery in Lampedusa's Imbriacola district, according to Italian media. Earlier this week, a five-month-old baby boy drowned during a rescue operation off the island, after a boat carrying migrants across the sea from north Africa capsized. Ms Meloni is pushing for a European Union naval blockade to prevent boats from crossing the Mediterranean to reach Italian shores. The Italian Red Cross said on Saturday that it was dealing with about 2,500 people at a reception centre designed for 400 arrivals. Volunteers){kind=link}
The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has visited a migrant reception centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa, after the country’s prime minister called for EU help with small boat arrivals.
More than 8,000 migrants have arrived on the island over the past three days.
PM Giorgia Meloni says Italy is being placed under “unsustainable pressure”.
Ms von der Leyen acknowledged on Sunday that the issue was “a European challenge and needs a European answer”.
At a news conference with Ms Meloni, she praised the people of Lampedusa for the support they had given to migrants, who she said had arrived on the island “simply because of its location”.