EU Frontex boosts presence in Mediterranean

The EU border security agency Frontex will extend its operations in the south Mediterranean to the end of August 2011. In response to the strong inflow of migrants from Tunisia specifically to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the agency is also widening the area of Operation Hermes to include Sardinia. The support of Italian authorities in monitoring the influx of migrants includes border patrols and aerial monitoring. Two additional Frontex patrol aircraft have been deployed in southern Italy. Should Rome request it, Frontex has announced it stands ready to deploy additional capabilities. Situated only 113km off the Tunisian coast, Lampedusa remains the main destination for migrants from Tunisia.