Frontex’s boss Illka Laitinen – will be coming on an unscheduled visit to Malta later today to discuss with the Maltese authorities the possible involvement of Frontex in the current humanitarian emergency arising from the Libyan crisis.

Speaking at the European Parliament this morning, Mr Laitinen said: “Malta is evidently under pressure” as it is handling many of the EU evacuees currently fleeing Libya.

He said that Frontex is considering extending its Hermes mission, started a few days ago in Lampedusa, and sending experts from other member states to help the Maltese authorities.

On Libya, Mr Laitinen said that although the situation is fluid and until now no flows of asylum seekers to Europe has resulted, he said that Frontex was preparing for such an eventuality.

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