Italy – Sinking of a boat of the coast of Crotone (26 February 2023)

France expresses its deep sadness following the sinking of a boat off the Italian coast that caused the death of some 60 people. Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families, to whom we offer our most sincere condolences.

This tragedy once again highlights the tragic conditions under which people opt for exile, taking all kinds of risks and exposing themselves to all kinds of dangers. As Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna reiterated, we must work even more closely with relevant third countries and develop a coordinated European approach to both sea rescues and to the fight against trafficking networks to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.

France is determined to continue the effort under way with its European partners in a manner that emphasizes both responsibility and solidarity in order to finalize the Pact on Migration and Asylum as quickly as possible.