European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson arrived on Sunday morning on the island of Lampedusa, a hotspot for the migration crisis, following an unprecedented increase in arrivals from the Mediterranean island. in the last days

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni invited the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to come here.

In a video message on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday evening, Maloney urged the EU leader to visit the island “to see for himself the seriousness of the situation we are in”.

Since the beginning of the week, thousands of migrants have arrived by boat on the small island between Sicily and North Africa.

On Tuesday alone, more than 5,000 people arrived in Lampedusa – more than ever in one day. At a certain moment, there were about 6,800 people in the reception center.

Because of its proximity to the Tunisian coastal city of Sfax, Lampedusa has long been a migration hotspot for people trying to reach Europe. The island’s municipal council declared a state of emergency Wednesday night in response to the situation.

“The migration pressure that Italy has been experiencing since the beginning of this year is unsustainable,” Maloney said. However, she added, it is clear that Italy and Europe cannot cope with the number of migrants arriving on its shores.

Maloney said he would decide on “exceptional measures” on Monday, such as extending the time refugees can stay in asylum centres.

Since October 2022, Italy has been governed by a right-wing alliance led by the far-right Meloni. One of her promises was the fight against migration.

So far, more migrants are arriving than before.

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior in Rome, about 127,200 people arrived in Italy by boat from the beginning of the year to September 15. During the same period last year, this figure was about 66,200.