In response to the Mediterranean migration crisis, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos presented yesterday (20.4) a Ten Point Action Plan at a joint meeting of Foreign and Interior Ministers, chaired by High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini in Luxembourg. The plan was fully backed by the foreign and interior Ministers.

Among other things, the plan makes special reference to Greece stating that European Asylum Support Office (EASO) should deploy teams in Italy and Greece for joint processing of asylum applications” and highlights the need for establishing “a new return programme for rapid return of irregular migrants coordinated by Frontex from frontline Member States.”

The plan will be discussed at the Extraordinary European Council on migratory pressures in the Mediterranean on Thursday, April 23.