The overcoming of Mare Nostrum and the launch of a new mission: Triton
It has been called Triton the new operation of « Frontex plus » that, by the end of November, should help and not replace the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean sea.
The new military mission will have a very limited budget in comparison to the budget of mare nostrum (2,8 milion per month instead 9 milion). The first task is not to save lives but to control the boders of the Fortress Europe.
In the meantime, the departures from Libya to Sicily are decreasing. The cause is not the bad weather but the worsening of the political situation in the Libyan territory and the escalation of violence.
Step by step
August 15th, the Interior Minister Angelino Alfano has called into question the European Union for the management of the ‘immigration emergency’. « The Italian operation Mare Nostrum was born at term » said the Minister. The wish is to replace Mare Nostrum with a European action.
August 19th, the Eu Commission said no to the Italian request claiming that « Frontex is a small agency, with a small budget« . While recognizing that member States should do more and help Italy to manage this situation, Europe has actually excluded the interruption of Mare Nostrum and the effective involvement of Frontex.
August 24th, following the umpteenth ‘disaster’ in the Strait of Sicily arrive a sign of opnness from Europe. Other 250 dead in Libya and the last shipwreck may have led the EU to change its mind on the issue of immigration. Its seems that Rome and Bruxessels are close to a common decision: the establishment of a new European plan that will directly involve countries as Spain, France, Germany and Finland. Alfano says: « Frontex Plus will replace Mare Nostrum »
September 3rd, The UE contradicts the Interior Minister Alfano: the new operation of Frontex will not replace Mare Nostrum and the fate of the latter will be decided only by Italy. The EU Commissioner Malmström ensures that Frontex Plus will be more limited in terms of resocurces and operational range. That is why it will be a complementary operation.
