The tragic sinking of a migrant vessel off the coasts of Lampedusa on 3 October has ignited a debate about the EU's migration and asylum policy, the management of the EU's southern borders and strengthening EU action to help preventing such human tragedies. The ship departed from Libya, carrying mostly Eritreans and Somalis. Over 360 people perished.
At the request of Italy, the incident was discussed at the JHA Council on 8 October, with the setting up of a Taskforce Mediterranean (TFM – chaired by COM/DG HOME, with the participation of the EEAS, EU Member States and relevant EU agencies). The TFM was requested to develop a report on EU actions to prevent such tragic incidents (to be finalised at the next meeting of the TFM on 20 November), to be discussed at the JHA Council on 5-6 December and presented to the European Council on 19-20 December.
