Finally there will be a solidarity mechanism to transfer migrants arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa to other European countries. It is one of the 10 points that the new European action plan announced this Sunday by Ursula Von der Leyen.

The president of the European Comission has visited the island after the arrival of more than 11,000 people in just three days. He says this crisis “needs a European response“.

Day after day boats arrive with dozens of migrants on board that disembark on the island. Lampedusa is experiencing the worst migration crisis in the last decade. It is the residents themselves who they try to stop the arrival. They speak directly about a “invasion” and they say they can’t help anymore.

“They are starving. We we can’t do more“exclaims a neighbor. The migrant center is overflowing. More than 7,000 people live there right now, although it only has capacity for 400.

Most arrive from north of Africa because the geographical position of the island allows relatively easy access from Tunisia, 250 kilometers away, and from Lebanon, a 290 kilometers. It is your door to Europe. Those who achieve it, celebrate it. But tension with neighbors increases.

Residents on the island have taken advantage of Von der Leyen’s visit with Giorgia Meloni to protest. They want one urgent solution now.