Massively increased numbers of migrants sailing to Europe this year is stretching EU border resources to breaking point
Operations to secure Europe's frontiers face potential cutbacks in order to finance extended patrols in the Mediterranean in the wake of a series of migrant deaths, including the apparent murder of around 500 people by traffickers, the EU's borders agency says.
Frontex says it faces a shortfall of €2.3m (£1.8) after extending operations off Italy, which were due to finish this month, until the end of November; this is a significant sum for an already hugely stretched organisation with an annual operational budget of just €42m.
The operation, covering waters to the south of Sicily and the Pelagie islands – among them Lampedusa, a common landing point for migrant boats from Africa – involves planes and crew provided by the Netherlands and Spain but is paid for by Frontex, and has already cost €13m this year. When the Dutch and Spanish mission finishes at the end of September they will be replaced by aircraft from elsewhere in the EU, something the agency says could affect operations elsewhere.
