On 25 November, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that European Union (EU) interior ministers agreed on a plan to improve cooperation on migrant arrivals. While no concrete decisions were reportedly taken, ministers welcomed a 20-point action plan proposed by the European Commission to address rising migration through the Central Mediterranean route. The plan reportedly focusses on strengthening cooperation with non-European countries, including steps to prevent departures from North Africa (namely, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya). In addition, it seeks to foster greater EU coordination of search and rescue, including among coastal and flag states. European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas told media, ‘We cannot and should not work on a crisis-by-crisis situation, ship-by-ship, incident-by-incident. We need one single framework based on EU law.’ EU interior ministers are due to meet on 8 December to continue these discussions.
