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This weekend’s tragic event in the Mediterranean Sea, costing the lives of hundreds of refugees, once again stresses the urgent need for the EU to change the asylum system, the external border control and to step up the fight against human trafficking.

LYMEC President Vedrana Gujic states that “The EU institutions and member states cannot continue doing nothing, hoping that the stream of refugees will stop, when it is obvious it will not. We must keep in mind that each life lost in the Mediterranean is a tragedy that could have been avoided”.

“We urge the member states and the EU institutions to work together and take joint responsibility. The current border control in the Triton program must be expanded and copy the Italian Mare Nostrum operation, which is estimated to have saved up to 140000 lives.”

The EU must step up the effort against the human traffickers, who continue to take advantage of desperate people, sending them out on journeys that all too often prove to be deadly.

The European Liberal Youth believes it is crucial that a new common asylum policy is developed, abolishing the current Dublin II system and ensuring that all states take their part of the shared responsibility.