Prime Minister: EU must prevent refugee boat tragedies from repeating

The EU must try to stabilise countries from which refugees have tried to migrate to Europe to prevent tragedies such as the weekend sinking which saw hundreds of refugees die off Libyan coast, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has said. After talks with his Polish counterpart Ewa Kopacz on Monday, Sobotka made clear the Czech Republic was ready to increase its aid to the refugees. Kopacz said the EU could not close its eyes on what has been occurring in the Mediterranean. She said improved border control as well as help in developing the North African countries was needed. According to some sources, up to 900 illegal migrants died after their boat capsized on Sunday. Hundreds of others died in similar incidents in the Mediterranean over the past few weeks.

Author: Jan Velinger