Migrants: Johansson visits Lampedusa with Piantedosi

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 4 - Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi on Tuesday thanked European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson for visiting Lampedusa to see first hand the difficulties Italy is experiencing in handling the arrival of large numbers of migrants by sea.
    The island is Italy's southern-most border and is often the first destination that migrants and refugees seeking a new life in Europe head for.
    But the dangerous nature of the crossing from North Africa and the unscrupulousness of the human traffickers mean that countless migrants die at sea each year.
    Furthermore, there has been a big increase in the already large number of migrant boats arriving on Lampedusa since the start of the year, frequency putting the island's migrant hotspot under intense pressure.
    "I want to thank Ylva Johansson," Piantedosi said.
    "It is the first time that a European commissioner has come to Lampedusa.
    "We see it as a sign of Europe's closeness to the problems of Italy, Lampeduca and the countries where the migrants arrive first.
    " Ylva Johansson's concrete presence was preceded by concrete acts and it will be followed by others that the European Commission is preparing to support Italy with this delicate task of being the country of first entry". (ANSA).