The European Union's Migration Commissioner, Magnus Brunner, has announced that Europe will take a "firm" stance toward Libyan authorities in response to a recent increase in irregular migration across the Mediterranean.

Brunner, who is scheduled to visit Libya next week, will be accompanied by officials from Greece, Italy, and Malta. The three countries to receive most of the migrants departing from Libya. Brunner hopes to persuade Libyan authorities to implement stronger measures to prevent migrant boats from departing toward Europe.

"That is actually a question which bothers us quite a lot at the moment. Libya is, of course, at the top of the agenda, and we're traveling together to Libya next week because we have to be fast, I think, and firm," Brunner said on Tuesday (July 1) during a conference in Athens.

The delegation will meet with both representatives from the United Nations-recognized government in western Libya as well as a rival authority in the east, under the command of General Khalifa Haftar, will discuss urgent actions to try and prevent migrants from attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing.

Greece to deploy navy vessels off Libya

Brunner's announcement follows a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has been closely involved in the European response to irregular migration.

Greece has proposed deploying warships to patrol international waters near Libya, especially in the wake of an increase in dangerous crossings to the southern Greek island of Crete. The route has become increasingly perilous, with many migrants choosing it over the more frequently traveled path from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.

Mitsotakis emphasized that the naval deployment aims to send a strong message to human traffickers that Greece will not tolerate uncontrolled migration.

Libya migrant sea departures increase

In recent weeks, sea crossings from northeastern Libya have seen a rise, with over 800 migrants attempting the journey since June 19. Last week alone, Greek authorities rescued around 700 people from boats drifting in international waters near Crete. Many of the migrants are fleeing conflict and instability in countries like Sudan, Egypt, and Bangladesh.

The rising number of deaths at sea has prompted EU-wide concerns. In 2023, hundreds of lives were lost when the fishing trawler Adriana, carrying migrants from Libya to Italy, sank in Greek waters.

Since 2015, Greece has been a primary entry point for migrants and refugees coming to the European Union, particularly those from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. While arrivals from Turkey have slowed in recent years due to varying factors such as tighter controls, the migration route from Libya has become increasingly active, prompting Greece to intensify its collaboration with both Libya and Egypt to address the new sources of migrant arrivals. 

Relations between Greece and Libya, which were strained by a 2019 maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey, are in the process of being rebuilt. Mitsotakis has signaled that the issue of naval deployment will be raised at the upcoming European Council meeting, where he will seek broader European support for Greece’s approach to managing Mediterranean migration. 

With AP and Reuters