The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called on Sunday for European Union countries to assist Italy in facing the migration crisis.

Von der Leyen, who is currently visiting the island of Lampedusa with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stated that "illegal migration poses a European challenge that needs a European response," urging EU member states to host a portion of the thousands of migrants arriving on the shores of Lampedusa.

Moreover, the Italian island of Lampedusa has experienced a state of tension over the past few days, following record numbers of migrants and asylum seekers arriving, prompting the government to request assistance in coping with the crisis.

Approximately 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy by boat since the beginning of this year, nearly double the number recorded in the same period in 2022, which was 64,000, according to data from the Italian Ministry of the Interior.